Bernard John Dvorak

October 24, 1934 - March 26, 2015


U.S. Veteran  

Bernard (Bernie) J. Dvorak, 80, of Cedar Rapids, died unexpectedly Wednesday, March 25, 2015. Services: 10 a.m. Monday at St. Jude Catholic Church by Rev. Mark Reasoner. Burial: Mt. Calvary Cemetery. A Rosary will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday at Teahen Funeral Home where friends may visit with the family until 7 p.m. Friends may also visit after 9 a.m. Monday at the church.

Survivors include his wife of 54 years Mary; sons Mark (Angie) of Hiawatha and Gary (Amy) of West Des Moines; three grandsons Matt, Alex, and Josh; and siblings Milo Dvorak of Clutier and Mary Ann Matthews of Pueblo, CO.

Bernie is preceded in death by his parents, brother Leo Dvorak, and sister Agnes Podhajsky.

Bernard John was born October 24, 1934 in Carroll Township in Tama County, the son of Frank and Anna (Husak) Dvorak. Bernie attended Carroll #7 Country School through the 8th grade, graduated in 1952 from Toledo High School, and then attended Kirkwood Community College for accounting. He served in the United States Army from September 19, 1956 to June 27, 1958 and spent 15 months in Korea, honorably discharged with the rank of Sp-3. Bernie married Mary Catharine Blake on September 24, 1960 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Tama. He served in the accounting department for several businesses during his career.

Bernie was a charter member of St. Jude Catholic Church and served as a hospitality minister and usher for over 40 years. He volunteered for other organizations such as Goodwill, Cedar Rapids Public Library, the United Way, and was a recipient of the Governor’s Volunteer Award.

Bernie loved to make homemade ice cream for all family occasions, was an avid crossword puzzle and card player (he was a member of a card club), and enjoyed country music and Karaoke with his family. He was proud of his Czech heritage and had traced his family history back to 1731.

He and Mary enjoyed travelling and had visited all 50 states. Bernie enjoyed woodworking, puttering around in the garage, yard, and on his John Deere tractors. He was an avid St. Louis Cardinals and Iowa Hawkeye fan.

Memorials may be directed to the family or St. Jude Catholic Church.

Bernard's Guestbook


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