Donald “Don” Dvorak
Donald “Don” Dvorak
Vinton
Donald “Don” Dvorak, 88, passed away peacefully at the Lutheran Home in Vinton, Iowa, on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022.
A visitation will be held at the Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home on Friday, Dec. 30, 2022, from 3 to 6 p.m. and also from 10 a.m. until service time at 11 a.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church, Vinton, Iowa, with Pastor Stephen Preus officiating. Interment to follow at the Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery-Garden of Tranquility.
Don was born on April 19, 1934, in Elberon, Iowa. He was the son of the late Frank Jr. and Bessie (Banes) Dvorak. He graduated from Keystone High School in 1952. He attended Iowa State University where he studied Aeronautical Engineering until enlisting in the Navy. On Oct. 28, 1956, Don married the love of his life, Mary Jocille Merchant in Vinton, Iowa. Don was a Navy pilot for many years. He worked as an Air Traffic Controller for the FAA until his retirement in 1987. He was baptized and confirmed at Memorial Lutheran Church in Ames, Iowa, in 1954, and was active in the Lutheran Church throughout his life. Don enjoyed bowling, gardening, fishing, hunting, leather working, and woodworking. He was an owner of a hobby farm that produced many apples that he gave to family and friends. In his later years, Don worked for Grant Wood AEA.
Those left to cherish Don’s memory are his wife, Mary Jocille Dvorak, of Vinton, Iowa; his children, Kent (Carrie) Dvorak, of Sandy, Utah, and Sherri (Terry) Olson of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; his grandchildren, Crystal (Anthony Mysliwiec) Olson, Jacob (Stacey) Dvorak, Steven (Martha Kopsi) Olson, Christopher (Jessica) Dvorak, and Joseph (Kate) Dvorak; and six great-grandchildren, James, Mason, Noah, Jackson, Grace, and Freddie. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his siblings, Louise Dvorak, William Dvorak, and Joann Toalson.
Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Lutheran Home in Vinton and/or to the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library.
The family would like to thank the entire staff at the Lutheran Home for all the love and care they showed Don, while he was in their care.
Condolences for the family may be left at www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.