Votroubek, Emil Anton

Emil Anton Votroubek, 93, of Cedar Rapids, died Saturday, July 16, 2011, at Cottage Grove Place. Funeral Mass will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 19, at St. Matthew's Catholic Church, with Father Gerald Condon presiding. Burial will follow in St. John's Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Brosh Chapel in Cedar Rapids, located at 2121 Bowling St. SW, where there will be a 7 p.m. parish vigil.

The pride of his life was his family. He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Dorothy (Erusha); his children: Janelle (Votroubek) and George McClain, Mark and Wendy Votroubek, Gerilyn (Votroubek) and Jim Stewart; grandchildren: Yara (McClain) and Joe Conway, Logan McClain and fiancee Rebecca Groff, Quinton McClain, Brent Votroubek, Spencer Votroubek, Kara Stewart, Blake Stewart, Josh and Priscilla (Mok) Boyle and Jessica Boyle; great-grandchild: Owen Conway; as well as countless nieces, nephews and cousins, all of whom gathered for lively Czech family reunions.

Emil was preceded in death by his parents, Anton and Sadie (Jirsa) Votroubek; and his two sisters, Lenora (Andrew) Svoboda and Sadie (Otto) Melsa.

Emil was a quiet man with big, strong hands and an even bigger heart. He was born Jan. 31, 1918, south of Walford, Iowa. He met Dorothy Erusha in high school at Walford and they were married at Holy Trinity Church on June 18, 1940, moving to the family farm south of Walford. He earned the money to pay for her wedding ring by hand husking corn. Some say he was the best husker in the area. In 1947, they moved to Cedar Rapids, where Emil worked for John Blaul, later becoming part owner of Thrifty Foods Grocery and then joined Wilson & Co. as salesman in 1949. He was sales manager of the wholesale division for 20 years, coordinating guest appearances by such notables as Mike Ditka, the Budweiser Clydesdales and Henry Hite. In 1969, he retired and began Nevo Meat Co., serving as president until his second retirement in 1990. He was a savvy business man and shared his expertise with his children and grandchildren. He always found time to volunteer as a member of the Tuesday Optimist and Elks Club No. 25.

Emil loved all sports, but baseball was closest to his heart. He was recruited by the Cleveland Indians, but chose to stay on the family farm, playing instead for local teams and umpiring. He was a loyal Cyclone and Chicago Cubs fan and rarely missed a game.

He and Dorothy loved their summer home at Lake of the Ozarks. For 17 years they shared boating, water sports and his famous Long Island iced teas with family and friends.

Memorials may be directed to either St. Matthew's Catholic Church or The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at