ELBERON-Arthur Joseph Dostal, age 80, of Elberon, died Sunday, October 19, 2008 at Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo following a lengthy illness. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, October 23, 2008 at 10:30 AM at the Immaculate Conception Church in Clutier with Father Jerry Blake officiating. Interment will follow at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery in rural Clutier. Visitation will be held Wednesday, October 22, 2008 from 4-7 PM at the Immaculate Conception Church in Clutier with a Rosary to be recited at 4:30 PM and a Vigil Service at 7 PM.
Arthur was born on December 2, 1927, in rural Tama, Iowa, the son of Lewis and Mary (Sotyn) Dostal.
He served his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
On June 27, 1949, he was united in marriage to Elaine Otto at the Immaculate Conception Church in Clutier. They farmed all of their married life. They made their first home on a farm near Toledo and moved to their present home near Elberon in March of 1956. Arthur was a member of the American Legion, Forty and Eight Club, Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the Catholic Order of Foresters. He played Rollie Bolly for several years and oversaw many tournaments. He belonged to several card groups and enjoyed fishing, smoking meats, dancing and visiting with friends and relatives. His greatest joy was spending time with his family, especially his yearly fishing trips with his sons.
Preceding him in death were his parents; one son, Edward in 1977; one daughter, Katherine Freeman in 1979; and two brothers, Fred and William in infancy.
Survivors include his wife Elaine of Elberon; three sons, Merle (Marlene) Dostal of Clutier, Jeffrey (Nancy) Dostal of Tama, and Chris of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; six grandchildren, Kate (Kasey) Backen, Jacqulyn (Jerimi) Kopsa, Kelli (Levi) Smith, Cory (Sarah) Dostal, Jeremy Dostal, and Brent Dostal; five great-grandchildren, Gabe and Emma Backen, Kaden and Ella Kopsa, and Lilly Dostal; one brother, Ludwig (Reva) Dostal of Toledo; one sister, Mildred Vajgart of Garwin; one daughter-in-law, Annie Conover of California; one son-in-law, Steve Freeman of Reno, Nevada; and one sister-in-law, Lillian Dostal of Clutier.
A memorial fund has been established.