Clarence F. Chizek

'GARNER -- Clarence F. Chizek, 85, of Garner died Saturday (July 12, 2008) at Mercy Medical Center -- North Iowa in Mason City surrounded by his loving family. Funeral services will be held 10:30 A.M., Wednesday at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Duncan with Fr. Brian Dellaert officiating. Burial will be in St. John's Catholic Cemetery in Duncan with military rites by the Garner Veterans Ceremonial Unit. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 P.M., Tuesday at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Garner with a Catholic Workman rosary at 4 P.M. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church. Clarence Frank Chizek, the son of Albert and Mary (Rayhons) Chizek, was born November 25, 1922, on a farm northwest of Garner. He attended the rural schools of Garfield Township and graduated from Garner High School in 1940. In August of 1941, Clarence met the love of his life, Irene Jager, at Hobo Days in Britt while on a blind date. On June 20, 1945, they were married at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Duncan while Clarence was on leave from the military. Clarence served his country during WW II in the Army Air Corps where he served in the 731st Bomb Squadron. ...[more]

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completed 36 flying missions on a B-17 Bomber serving in an operational capacity as a waist gunner. During this service, he was awarded the Five Oak Leaf Cluster Air Medal for diligent and courageous performance. His bomb group was also awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation by President Eisenhower for an important mission in which they flew 23 combat missions over a 30 day period. After the war, he returned home and farmed north of Garner where he and Irene raised their eight children. Clarence was a director for the ASC Government program a number of years. After retiring from farming in 1980, Clarence and Irene continued to live on the farm until 2004, when they became tenants of Cardinal Grove Assisted Living. He had been a resident of Concord Care Center in Garner for the past six months. He enjoyed trout fishing in eastern Iowa, trips with Irene and friends to Las Vegas, farming and doing carpentry work in his shop. Clarence will always be remembered by his family for his wonderful sense of humor. He was a lifetime member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church where he taught catechism and was a lector for 29 years. He was a member and past president of Catholic Workman Branch 51, charter member of Edwin Jante VFW Post 5515 and a member of Gifford Olson Post 256. He belonged to the Garner Shipping Association and was a past Garfield Sluggers 4-H leader. Clarence is survived by his eight children, Mary (Gary) Thoms of Clear Lake, Barbara (Chester) Plonksi of Forest City, Nancy (David) Frederick of Mason City, Cindy Chizek of Mason City, Sharon (Tom) Frederick of Forest City, Tom ( Michelle) Chizek of Garner, Betty Chizek of Mason City and Robert Chizek (partner, Sydney Shand) of Los Angeles, CA; ten grandchildren, Shelly (Don) Prohaska, Tanna Frederick, Nathaniel Frederick, Joshua Frederick, Hannah Frederick, Mara Frederick, Colton Voss, Ryan Sanner, Jenna Chizek and Arandas Alahan; two great-grandchildren, Caleb and Jesslyn Prohaska; a brother-in-law, Kenneth Jager of Jacksonville, FL; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Irene, Dec. 2, 2006; his parents; and brothers, Edwin Chizek and Walter (Marceline) Chizek. "Should you shield the canyons of their windstorms, you would never see the true beauty of their carvings." -- Elisabeth Kubler-Ross