Wenceslaus F. Balik

Wenceslaus Francis "Jim" Balik, 80, of Waterloo, IA, formerly of Protivin, IA, died at Covenant Medical Center on Monday, April 2, 2018 of natural causes. He was born November 19, 1937 in Decorah, IA, son of Louis Sr. and Helen Puffer Balik and attended grade school in Spillville, IA and high school in Protivin. Jim married Charlene Skretta on November 14, 1959; she died November 25, 1972. He married Mary Jean Jaspers February 9, 1974. He farmed, worked for Mason City Tile & Marble, Calmar Cheese Factory and Schley Cheese Factory, was the custodian at Holy Trinity Parish in Protivin for 16 years, drove a school bus for Turkey Valley Community School District, a custodian for Eastern Star Home in Decorah and later managed apartments in Waterloo. He had been a member of Holy Trinity Parish in Protivin and St. Wenceslaus Church in Spillville. In 2001, they moved to Waterloo and became members of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. Jim could fix just about anything; he loved to putter and plan different projects. He was always on the look-out for a license plate to add to his collection. He also enjoyed fishing and watching his team the St. Louis Cardinals play. He had been a...[more]

View Full Online Obituary and Tributes

rdinal's fan since he was a boy listening to the games on the car radio with his dad. He is survived by his wife, Mary and their children and grandchildren: son, Dennis Balik , Bonita Springs, FL and his children: Sharlene (Julian) Gelhaye and Samantha (Mike Monjeau) Balik; daughter, Debra (Wayne Nason) Balik , Palm Springs, CA and her son, Jonathan Nason; son, Douglas (Grace) Balik , West Seneca, NY and his children: Tina (Jim Pfleuger) Burton, Jeffrey Burton, Krissy Burton, and Steven Patrick Wenceslaus Balik; son, Darren (Roberta) Balik , Goodyear, AZ and his children: Nicole Balik, and Katherine Balik; daughter, Darci (Chuck Pitzen) Ritter , Waterloo and her children: Keaton Ritter, Michael Ritter, and Collin Ritter; a great grandson, Ben Pfleuger and expecting another one on the way; and "adopted children," Muhamed and Sonada Odobasic, Waterloo and their children, Emrah Odobasic and Imran Odobasic; other survivors include his two sisters, Lorraine Bily, Omaha, NE and Anna Mae Weist, Richardson, TX; a sister in law, Betty Balik, Cresco, IA; a large extended family and also his extended Covenant family. Jim is preceded in death by a granddaughter, Tami Nason; three brothers: George (Lorraine), Edward (Helen), and Louis Jr. Balik; three sisters: Genny (Robert) Pesek, Emily (Irvin) Moudry, and his twin, Betty in infancy; and two brothers in law, Fritz Bily and Linus Weist.   To read the full obituary, please click here: http://www.lockefuneralhome.com/obituaries/wenceslaus-f.-jim-balik