Robert M. Smejkal
Robert M. Smejkal
Cedar Rapids
Robert M. Smejkal, 90, of Cedar Rapids, passed away early Sunday, March 5, 2023. Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church by Father James Brokman. Burial will follow at Saint John’s Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Papich-Kuba Funeral Home East, 1228 Second St. SE, where a rosary begins at 6:30 p.m.
Robert is survived by his wife of 61 years, Marlene; sons, Marvin (Wendy), Mike (Tammy) and Mark (Liz), all of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, Leo, John and Charlie Smejkal and Kayla and Claire Streevy; one great-granddaughter, Maika Streevy; and one brother, Leo Smejkal of Cedar Rapids.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Lorraine (Plotz) Smejkal.
Robert was born Oct. 16, 1932, in Cedar Rapids and was a lifelong resident. He graduated from McKinley High School. Robert married Marlene E. McHugh on Aug. 1, 1961, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.
Robert had worked at Collins Radio Co., the family-owned Vernon Village Grocery Store and was later employed at Paulson Electric Co., retiring in 1996.
As Bob’s family reminisces, it all began at the Green Gable Drive-In on Center Point Road. T.R. Wendel, his uncle, would take Bob with him when he would get a beer and buy popcorn from Marlene’s popcorn stand at the youthful age of 10 or 12. A few years later, after many popcorn sales, they went to the St. Ludmila’s Kolache Festival. After some time, they decided to get married and have a family. By then Marlene’s parents had the Mount Vernon Road grocery store location and were being requested to sell. When the grocery store was sold, Bob went to work for Paulson Electric and was with them till his retirement.
As described by the Plotz family, Bob was like an Energizer bunny…and he sure was. In retirement, he did many special projects for his three boys and their businesses, first building an enclosed trailer that is still on the road today from almost 40 years ago, to reworking Ferris wheel seats and parts for the Ferris Wheel side of our businesses. There never was a shortage of time to run errands for any of the family businesses, even to faraway places.
Whatever Bob did, one could always count on him to solve the problems that may have been at hand so that there would be a smooth outcome. We will miss his knowledge, energetic work ethic and companionship.
He was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and had attended Saint Wenceslaus Church the past several years.
Memorial donations may be given to Camp Courageous.