Svoboda, Erma J.

Erma J. Svoboda, 77, of Coralville, died Saturday, July 16, 2011, at Mercy Iowa City. Services celebrating Erma's life will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 21, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service, Iowa City. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, concluding with a Moose Memorial Service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Erma's memory to Mercy Hospital Foundation.

Online condolences may be sent for her family through the web at .

Erma Jane Steyer was born Feb. 24, 1934, in West Frankfort, Ill., the daughter of John and Pansy (McCasland) Steyer. She was united in marriage to Arden E. Svoboda on Nov. 27, 1952, at St. Peter and Paul Church in Tulsa, Okla. The couple moved to Coralville in 1960. She began working at the University of Iowa in the Payroll Office, a position she held for over 31 years, retiring in 1997. She was a member of the Woman of the Moose in Iowa City.

She is survived by her husband, Arden; children, Jane (William) Ahrens of Montezuma, Arden Svoboda Jr. (Carol) of Coralville, Robin Sue Svoboda of Cedar Rapids, and Kathrine Ferrie (Patrick) of Cresco; 18 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and a brother, John Steyer (Vivian) of Modesto, Calif.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Pansy Steyer; brother, Richard Steyer; and a grandson, Samuel Ahrens.