Tesar, Edward Leo

Edward Leo Tesar, 92, of Mount Vernon, died Tuesday, April 5, 2011, at the Hiawatha Care Center. Funeral Mass will be 9 a.m. Friday, April 8, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids, with Father Chris Podhajsky officiating. Burial will follow at St. John's Cemetery, where full military rites will be conducted. Visitation will be from 5 to 7:30 p.m. today at Brosh Chapel in Cedar Rapids, located at 2121 Bowling St. SW, where there will be a 7:30 p.m. rosary.

Edward was born Oct. 3, 1918, in rural Johnson County, the son of James and Blanche (Kral) Tesar. He married Maxine Netolicky on April 14, 1942, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids. He served in United States Army during World War II in the European Theatre as a medic. Ed farmed in the Mount Vernon area his entire life. He married Verna Bieber on July 25, 1975, in Cedar Rapids.

He enjoyed fishing, hunting, traveling, dancing, playing cards and spending time with his family. He was a member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church and the Ely American Legion.

Ed is survived by his children, Dean (Angela) Tesar of Cedar Rapids, Karen (Raymond) Rios of Kalona and Carol (James) Brannaman of Mount Vernon; grandchildren and great-grandchildren; stepchildren, stepgrandchildren and stepgreat-grandchildren; and a sister-in-law, Gladys Tesar of Mount Vernon.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Maxine in 1974; his wife, Verna in 2000; a brother, Louis Tesar; and an infant daughter.

Memorials may be directed to St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church or the American Cancer Society in his name.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at