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Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Smejkal, Mary Lou
Mary Lou Smejkal, 69, of Cedar Rapids, died Friday, Jan. 13, 2012, at Delray Medical Center in Delray Beach, Fla. Funeral Mass: 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids by Father Chris Podhajsky. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Cedar Rapids, where a rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Burial: St. John Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.
Survivors include her loving husband, Alan; two sons, Rick (Darcy) and Michael (Michelle), of Cedar Rapids; three grandchildren, Adam Smejkal, Zachary Smejkal and Morgan Smejkal; a sister, Patricia “Pat” (Jerry) Beer of Cedar Rapids; three brothers, Robert “Bob” (Theresa) Ruzicka, Matthew “Mike” Ruzicka and Dennis (Karan) Ruzicka, all of Cedar Rapids; a sister-in-law, Barbara Ruzicka of Solon; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Ronald Ruzicka; and her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Leonard and Anna Smejkal.
Mary Lou was born July 10, 1942, the daughter of Matthew and Mary (Sejnoha) Ruzicka in Cedar Rapids. On Aug. 19, 1961, she married Alan Ronald Smejkal at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church. Mary Lou had worked at Killian's, Brosh Chapel, Impact Sales, and Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home.
Mary Lou was a member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church. She also belonged to St. Mary's Society, St. Bridget Circle, and St. Wenceslaus Choir.
Mary Lou was very proud of her Czech heritage. She was an avid reader and liked to travel, bake, and was known to be very precise. She enjoyed spending her winters in Florida. Mary Lou loved to spend time with her family, especially her grandchildren. She enjoyed baking with Zachary, making special foods for Adam, and shopping and manicures with Morgan. The many activities which she attended made her very proud to be their grandma. They were the love of her life.
Mary Lou will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
A memorial fund has been established in memory of Mary Lou.
Please sign the online guest book for Mary Lou at under obituaries.
Published Jan. 19, 2012, in The Gazette