Shebetka, William

William Shebetka, 92, of Cedar Rapids, died Tuesday, March 13, 2012, at Higley Mansion Care Center. Services: 11 a.m. Friday at Teahen Funeral Home by Pastor Alfred Kaupins. Burial: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, with military honors. A visitation will be held Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. and again after 10 a.m. Friday at Teahen Funeral Home.

He is survived by two daughters, Wilma Porter of Cedar Rapids and Nancy (Jon) Williams of Toddville; stepdaughter, Sharon (David) Berryhill of Gilbert; and several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, stepgrandchildren and stepgreat-grandchildren.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Eula, of 54 years; one brother, Lumir; stepson, Ronald Hutton; and two grandchildren, Scott Berryhill and Michael Madonna.

Bill was born June 4, 1919, in rural Oxford, Iowa, the son of William and Mary (Rousar) Shebetka. “Willie” as he was known by then, attended rural one room schools thru the eighth grade and graduated from University High School in Iowa City in 1937. He was united in marriage to Eula Lawson on June11, 1947, in Cedar Rapids at the Czech Evangelical and Reformed Church.

Bill retired from the Cedar Rapids Postal Service as a letter carrier in 1984. Before that he held numerous jobs around the city throughout his lifetime.

He was a proud former member of the Cedar Rapids Fire Department even though he did not make a career of it.

He was a United States Army veteran, serving during World War II. Bill served in the Southwest Pacific theatre with the Sixth Infantry Division.

Bill was a member and past president of the Sixth Infantry Division Association, member of the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 373, National Association of Retired and Active Federal Employees Branch 133, Western Fraternal Life Insurance Association Lodge 262, AARP, life member of VFW Post 788, and the American Legion and Czech Heritage Foundation.

He enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, mushrooming, gardening and travel. He also enjoyed going to the casinos and attending his Army reunions, but especially he loved his Hawkeyes.

The family would like to thank doctors Payvandi, Booth and Boddicker, as well as the staff at Higley Mansion Care Center for the wonderful care they provided to our dad.

Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society or the Czech & Slovak Museum & Library.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.teahenfuneralhome.com

Published March 15, 2012 in The Gazette