Dolores Ira Obituary

Dolores Ira, age 96, of Spillville, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at Ossian Care Center in Ossian, Iowa.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, 207 Church St., Spillville, Iowa, with Rev. Henry Huber presiding. Burial to follow in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, August 11, 2025, at the Church, and from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service on Tuesday morning at the church.

"The next place I will go"

My final resume: by Dolores Elaine, Jarosh, Ira, Spillville, IA. I was born on April 11, 1929, on the family farm in Chickasaw Co. IA. My parents were Albert & Agnes (Klimesh) Jarosh. I was baptized at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Protivin, received First Holy Communion, and was confirmed in the Assumption Catholic Church, Little Turkey, IA. My education was at a country school for eight years, and then I attended High School at St. Wenceslaus in Cedar Rapids. My honors were: the class's highest honor for four years. In 1947, I was selected to attend Hawkeye Girls State representing Hanford Legion Post Auxiliary of Cedar Rapids. I was listed in "Who's Who among students in American High Schools" in 1948. I played basketball (half-court, -that was fun) and was a pianist for the school band. I attended Mt. Mercy Jr. College in Cedar Rapids from 1948-50 and earned membership in "Phi Theta Kappa," National Honor Society. In addition, I was a member and officer of the Sodality. After graduating, I was a bookkeeper for an Implement Dealer in Cedar Rapids for two years, at Iowa Tractor & Machinery, and then entered my last career.

On May 7, 1951, I married Charles Ira (a sailor, my life's dancing partner of 69 years, whom I met at the Inwood Ballroom in Spillville) at the Assumption Catholic Church in Little Turkey. We made our home in Spillville, where we owned and operated the Spillville Feed Mill for 30 years. In 1970, we moved to a small farm west of town, a good place to raise our seven children-Rona, Peggy, Nancy, Cindy, Jeff, Teresa, and Terry.

Some of my busy years were as a member of the St. Wenceslaus Church. I served as song leader for several years, was a member of the Church Ladies Guild, where I also served as president, held membership in the American Legion Auxiliary #467 for 69 years, and held an office on the local and county level. I was an assistant 4-H leader of the Spillville Spartanettes and was secretary of the St. Wenceslaus Parish Historical Society. Together with Charles, we worked on the TEC and Pre-Cana programs. My greatest enjoyment was attending sports when the children and grandchildren were in school. I cherished many enjoyable times with the family and grandchildren-we always met with hugs (they are free). Christmas was always at our home, where the family gathered for food, fun, gifts (and noise). I also pursued many hobbies: sewing, quilting, crafts, fishing and dancing at the Inwood. Some of my favorite things were: baking cut-up cakes for birthdays, a Lamb cake at Easter, decorated Easter eggs for a tree, garnet jewelry, apricot kolaches, weeding the flower beds, and potato dumplings (not necessarily in that order). We made two trips to the Czech Republic seeking relatives. Our other trips were to Hawaii, Mexico, and Washington State, and we attended several of Chuck's Navy reunions in Nashville and Texas (the U.S.S. Battleship Texas #35), his home during WWII. Our last trip to Texas was in 2014. For the final reunion, 19 family members were able to attend. My last memorable, awesome trip was to Italy in 2016 with three daughters. Special religious people in my life were the Nuns who taught me, several priests, and of course, Pope Francis, whom we got to meet in Italy. I lived to actually see and love a saint: "Mother Theresa" of Calcutta" I kept a scrapbook of her life, among many others. Searching for relatives took us to several states to help in genealogy-a favorite pastime. I completed several family history books, among them: The Klimesh and Jarosh Histories, co-authored with cousins Cyril Klimesh and Millie Pearson. I completed (with a little help from the girls) the Ira History Book in time for the Ira reunion in 2005. The extended family history books I worked on were: Cibuzar, Pesek, Korbel, Cisar, Janacek, and Korcak. When the children left home, I was employed by Job Training in Postville as bookkeeper, followed by the Main St. Mini Mart, Spillville, and then secretary/bookkeeper for the St. Wenceslaus Church and for the Spillville Sr.Housing. In 2001, we retired to Spillville to a new home built by (UKC), (US KIDS CONSTRUCTION)-they were for real.

Those left to cherish my memory are: children, Rona Ira Messmore, Hudson; Nancy (Steve)McGrew, Van Horne; Cindy (Galen) Ira-Smith, Worthington, MN; Jeff Ira, New Hampton; Teresa (Jeff) Kennon, Lime Springs; Terry (Amy) Ira, Iowa City, Grandchildren: Scott (Bobbi), Patrick (Renee), Brent Messmore, Nick (Ashley), Andrew (Whitney) Chardoulias; Erin (Nate) Haas; Alex (Katelyn) McGrew; Jason Smith, Rachel (Jesse) Sheffield, Leslie (Ryan Young) Ira; Kathryn (Austin) Moore, Abby (Mitch Krapfl) Kennon, Cassy Kennon, Emily and Luke Ira. There are 19 great-grandchildren, 7 step grandchildren, 17 step-great-grandkids and 2 step great-great-grandkids. "In my retirement my happy mania was doing a daily crossword puzzle and praying the Rosary." "The next place I will go I will travel empty-handed. I won't remember going there, somehow I'll just arrive, but I'll know that I belong there and be absolutely free of the things that I held onto that were holding onto me. There is not a single thing I have collected that I would ever want to bring except the love of those who loved me, and the warmth of those who cared." I asked Jesus, "How much do you love me? He stretched out his arms and died. "Thank you, Jesus for your sacrifice."

Dolores was preceded in death by her husband, Charles, daughter Peggy Novak, daughter-in law Jennifer Ira, son-in-law Larry Novak, great granddaughter Catherine and a step great grandson, Lincoln.

Memorials may be directed to Ossian Care Center or Winn-Med Hospice.

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