Richard Sojka

Richard J. "Dick" Sojka, 58, of Washington, died Monday, May 23, 2005, following injuries suffered in an automobile accident south of Washington.
Funeral Mass will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 27, 2005, at the St. James Catholic Church in Washington with Father Rich Adam officiating. Interment will follow services in the Elm Grove Cemetery. Visitation will begin at noon on Thursday at St. James Catholic Church where the family will receive friends from 2:00 until 4:00 and from 7:00 until 9:00. Prayer services will be held at 7:00 Thursday evening. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established for youth baseball in Washington, Iowa or to St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Wellman, Iowa. Online condolences may be sent for Dick's family through the Web at www.jonesfh.com. The Jones - Eden Funeral Home in Washington is handling the arrangements.
Dick was born April 6, 1947, in Washington, Iowa the son of George and Agnes (Kiene) Sojka. He graduated from Washington High School in 1965 and later from the University of Iowa in 1969 with a Bachelor's Degree in History. Dick was united in marriage to Karen Koller on June 4, 2004, in Riverside, Iowa. He was previously married to Margaret Jarrard.
Dick was the President of Iowa Bridge & Culvert from 1997 to present. He had a genuine love for designing and building bridges. Previously he worked as the field project Superintendent Manager for I B & C for 10 years and as general manager and Executive Vice President for I B & C for 18 years. Dick coached Little League and Babe Ruth baseball for 14 years and organized the East Division, Heartland Senior Babe Ruth Baseball where he was president for 5 years. He coached in 2 Babe Ruth World Series; and coached 4 years at Midwest Regional Babe Ruth Tournaments. Dick served on several committee's including the Community Y Board for 6 years where he served as Y Board President and a member of the Y's Men; served on the Washington City Council from 1992 - 1999; served as Chairperson of Finance Committee involved in creating TIF districts in Washington; member of the Washington Pool Committee and served as a volunteer project manager for the Washington Family Aquatic Center. He was a member of the Associate General Contractors of Iowa where he currently served as President; and was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Wellman where he was recently elected as President of the Parish Council and taught 7th-grade religion class.
Dick was an avid Iowa Hawkeye and Atlanta Braves fan. Dick's interests included reading and he was an avid history buff. He also enjoyed traveling and sailing especially in the Caribbean. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and brother.
Dick is survived by his wife, Karen Sojka of Washington, Iowa; 2 sons, Michael Sojka and wife, Joni, of North Liberty, Iowa; Jeffrey Sojka and wife, Tara, of Iowa City, Iowa; 1 grandson, Isaac Sojka; brother, Gerald Sojka and wife, Janice, of Ainsworth, Iowa; sister, Rosemary Huggett and husband, David, of Florida; brother, Jim Sojka and wife, Freda, of Columbus Junction, Iowa; 2 step sons, Ryan Koller and fiancée Michelle Greene of Iowa City, Iowa; and Jake Koller and wife, Brooke, of North Liberty, Iowa; and 1 step grandson, Mason Koller.
He was preceded in death by his parents; 2 brothers, Donald and infant brother Robert Charles.
Sojka