Elsie Mae (Peshek) Jelinek

Elsie Mae (Peshek) Jelinek

Cedar Rapids

Elsie Mae (Peshek) Jelinek passed away Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, at Terrace Glen Village with the support and specialized care of Hospice of Mercy. A visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. A funeral service will immediately follow at 1 p.m. at the funeral home. Private family interment will take place at Fairfax Cemetery in Fairfax, Iowa.

Elsie was born Nov. 24, 1933, in Dante, S.D., the daughter of Frank Peshek and Mary Margaret Konstanz Peshek, she attended several one-room schools and graduated from Walford High School in 1952.

After high school, Elsie worked at Collins Radio, now Collins Aerospace. She was proud of the award she received in 1958, from Collins, for her patent idea which created substantial savings for the company.

On Sept. 9, 1956, Elsie was united in marriage to Don Jelinek at the Methodist Church in Walford, Iowa. Elsie and Don were married for 55 years until his death in 2011. They enjoyed spending time together fishing, traveling, attending the Cedar Rapids Kernel baseball games, and antique hunting. They were most gratified with their 55 years in their antique business, Jelinek Appraisals. Don and Elsie reveled in estate (tag) sales, antique shows, and refinishing furniture. They traveled throughout the Midwest, buying, selling, and making friends along the way.

Elsie also treasured her many years as treasurer and bookkeeper at the Czech Slovak Museum.

Elsie is survived by her sister, Doris Nevenhoven of Elburn, Ill.; her brother, Joe (Mildred) Peshek of Cedar Rapids; and her many nieces and nephews, including one niece she was very dear to. She was always there to help.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Don; sister, Ella Bangert and her husband Gene Bangert; her brothers, William Peshek and his wife Margaret Peshek, and Wilbert Peshek and his wife Janette Peshek-Biley; along with her two beloved dogs, Antoine and Tammy.

Elsie’s family wants to express deep gratitude to the entire staff of Terrace Glen Village and Hospice of Mercy for their outstanding care for Elsie.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Hospice of Mercy, Camp Courageous, Cedar Valley Humane Society, or a charity of your choice.

Please share a memory of Elsie at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.