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Robert Krafka

Robert Charles Krafka was born May 11, 1929 to Charles & Albena (Chudlic) Krafka in their farmhome south of Dysart, Iowa. He was baptized, confirmed & lifelong member of Dysart Methodist churches and graduated from Dysart Consolidated Schools in 1947. Beginning at a young age Robert helped with farm chores, field work & taught his older sister how to drive a car when he wasn’t very old. While growing up Robert participated in 4H, ball teams that continued into adulthood on local “kittenball” teams and for many years farmers’ agriculture classes. He farmed with his father until early 1950s and then his own farm for 50 years until he retired in 2000. In the early years he had livestock and later only row-crops. Robert had a command of land conservation in his farming practices & truly loved his vocation. He was a certified crop spray applicator, did custom field work & combining for area farmers. There was always one of several Scotch Collie dogs named Lady at his side.

On July 18, 1953 he was married to Arlene Mae Snyder at Little Brown Church in the Vale. They grew into a family of four children, nine grandchildren & 14 great-grandchildren who fondly remember his generosity & love. Missing Robert are his wife Arlene ~ ˢCraig & Andrea Krafka; Amy (Pete) Eikamp, Miles, Max, Oliver & Boston all of Dysart; and Nicole (Colby) Heishman, Brynlee & Josephine of Brooklyn ~ ˢDavid Krafka of Dysart; Emily (Ross) Stalzer, Lane, Kelby of Haverhill and Ben Krafka of Melborne; MSgt Shane (Bailey) Krafka, Hadley, Fynn & Langstyn of Spangdahlem American Air Base, Germany ~ ˢDann Krafka; Alex; Ryan (Jeanette) Krafka, all of Solon ~ ͩJoan & Joseph Meany, Waterloo; Seth; Ross (Shauna) & Jackson Meany; Betsy (Jesse) & Stella Blau, all of WDM area.

Throughout his life Robert enjoyed going to Iowa track races, snowmobiling trails of Wisconsin & Minnesota and boating their lakes & Iowa reservoirs. In 2017 he suffered a massive stroke. When mandates halted care center visits and lack of meaningful activities, he became an orphan with a broken heart/spirit. On Thursday October 15, 2020 with his family bedside for his final week of life, Robert (age 91½) died comfortably & beautifully as the sun rose in a blue sky; like a farmer would have arisen to see a good day to be in his fields. 

Robert is also survived by his younger brother, Richard of Dysart, 9 nieces, 3 nephews & their families & sister-in-law Alverna Robertson. Welcoming Robert into Heaven are his parents, 3 older sisters: Vivian (died as a toddler,) Arlene (& Dale) Palmer, Janet (& both Warrens) Messer – Sawyer all of Dysart, his in-laws Clarence & Lurah (Andrews) Snyder of Independence, daughter-in-law Peggy, one nephew Tim & his father Don Robertson of Fredericksburg, Va., great-niece Lori, sister-in-law Caroline, all his Bohemian immigrant grandparents & great-grandparents, many aunts, uncles & cousins.

Services were handled by Locke Funeral Home, Waterloo, Iowa.

Celebration of Life will be on Robert’s birthday May 11, 2021. For information to attend, please call 319-654-5014. Family burial occurred October 20, 2020 at Dysart Cemetery