Frederick Allen Ruzicka Sr.
Frederick Allen Ruzicka Sr.
Cedar Rapids
Frederick Allen Ruzicka Sr., 83, was born into eternal life on Thursday, February 15, 2024 at Heritage Specialty Care in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He was born March 20, 1940 in Cedar Rapids to Myrtle Violet (Langton) and Joseph Anthony Ruzicka I, the 4th of six children and was baptized at Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church that same year. After attending school through eighth grade, Fred initially worked as a baker’s helper and delivery person for Sramek’s Bakery. In 1963 he was hired fulltime at Wilson’s Meat Packing Plant (later called Farmstead) where his father, brother, Pep (Joe Junior) and uncles, Matthew Ruzicka and Melvin and Willie Langton were also employed. Fred worked at Wilson’s for over 28 years.
Fred first married Rosemary May Beaty, the daughter of Phoebe Irene (Franks) and Marion Beaty, on July 24, 1960 in Clinton, Iowa. To their union were born three sons and a daughter. Fred and Rosemary lived on an acreage raising chickens, geese, ducks, hogs, a Holstein cow and later a Guernsey that provided cream, butter and cottage cheese to use and sell. Fred used his work skills to butcher chickens, hogs and geese for meat.
Fred’s second marriage was to Patricia Ann (Wirth) Shurtz, daughter of Edna Marie (Peterson) and James Merrell Wirth, on Saturday, February 17, 1973 in Cedar Rapids. Patty had one son, and two sons were born to Fred and Patty’s union.
Fred had a longtime affection for the Ford Mustang and had owned at least three models in his lifetime, earning him the nickname “Mustang Fred.” He enjoyed his children and grandchildren immensely and would often be invited to join them on trips around the country. Some of his favorites included his Caribbean cruise, Las Vegas and South Dakota trips which he talked about often. He especially enjoyed spending mornings with his friends at Hy-Vee and sharing his latest jokes. Fred had a wonderful sense of humor and would light up any room he was in. With this humor and his need to entertain, he might just hold the record for the most time in Facebook jail. He was a simple man who enjoyed his flowers and the serenity he experienced while fishing.
He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Rosemary Jibben, who died less than two months ago; all of his siblings: Francis, Joseph, Richard, Kenneth and Rose Marie Ruzicka; and a grandson, Austin Ruzicka.
Survivors include his children: Alan (Diana) Ruzicka, New Market, Alabama; Guy (Tina) Ruzicka, Cedar Rapids; Darren (Lisa) Ruzicka, Palo, Iowa; Julie DeMaria, Wantagh, New York; Lyle (Melissa) Ruzicka; Kirk (Dorothy) Ruzicka, and a stepson, Jeffrey (Dee) Shurtz, Cedar Rapids; eighteen grandchildren, thirteen great-grand- children; and Fred’s second wife, Patricia Kniffen, Cedar Rapids.
Visitation will take place from 5 to 8 P.M., Friday, February 23, at Papich-Kuba Funeral Home East, 1228 2nd Street SE. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, February 24 at Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Saint John’s Catholic Cemetery.