Vivian Formanek

BRITT - Our loving mother, grandmother, friend and mentor, Vivian Formanek, 91, of Britt, died Saturday (Jan. 9, 2010) at the Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Britt, with Father Henry Huber, officiating. Burial will be in St. John's Catholic Cemetery in Duncan.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. today, Tuesday, at the Cataldo Funeral Home in Britt, with a rosary being recited at 4 p.m. and a Scriptural wake service at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Patrick's Catholic Church or Hospice of North Iowa in her memory.
Vivian Formanek, the tenth of twelve children of Frank and Elizabeth (Kudej) Kopacek, was born on Nov. 20, 1918, on a farm south of Duncan. She attended the rural schools of Liberty Township and Britt High School where she graduated as class valedictorian at the age of 15. She continued her education at Britt Junior College.
During high school and college she lived with her maternal grandparents and various family members, caring for her many nieces and nephews.
On April 13, 1937, she married Edward John Formanek at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Duncan. They were the loving parents of five children. They farmed northeast of Duncan until 1975 when Ed became ill. They moved to Britt in 1976 where Vivian cared for Ed until he passed away in December of 1983.
Vivian was a compassionate and caring individual. She worked at Westview Care Center and was an active church and community volunteer. Vivian delivered Meals on Wheels, was a Hospice volunteer, taught catechism and was a Eucharistic minister. She took communion to patients in hospitals and nursing homes for 30 years.
Vivian received the Governor's Volunteer Award for her service. She was devoted to her church and family. She enjoyed genealogy, traveling and baking.
She was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church and Catholic Workman FCSLA w51.
Vivian will be greatly missed by her children, Gary (Jane) Formanek, of Portland, Ore., Karen (Al) Boeck, of Phoenix, Ariz., Patricia (David) Wallen of Minot, N.D., and Cindy Formanek Kirk (Bob Florian) of Birmingham, Ala.; daughter-in-law, Jean Pederson (Ron), of Lake Mills; grandchildren, Kim Becker, Rachel Formanek Monteiro, Renee Patchak, David Haverly, Patrick Wallen, Stephanie Wallen, Beth Wallen, Brian Kirk, Elizabeth Kirk, Krisanne Pederson and Jason Pederson; 12 great-grandchildren; a sister, Marie Brcka, of Britt; many nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ed, on Dec. 26, 1983; son, Ron, on Oct. 18, 1966; sisters, Mildred Wellik, Lillian Chizek, Agnes Rayhons, Blanche Paca and Evelyn Kopacek; brothers, Vincent and Raymond Kopacek; and three siblings in infancy, Helen, Arnold and Francis.
Cataldo Funeral Home, 641-843-3811.
www.cataldofuneralhome.com.