Ollie Alena Kopecky, 100, of Toledo, passed away on Sunday, July 24, 2016 at Premier Estates of Toledo under the care of Iowa River Hospice. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, July 28, 2016 at 10:30 AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Tama with Father Michael Mescher as celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Patrick's Cemetery in Tama. Visitation will be held Thursday, July 28, 2016 from 9:30-10:30 AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Tama.


Ollie was born on April 14, 1916, on a farm west of Irving, Iowa, the daughter of John and Emma (Hanousek) Kalina. When she was two years old she moved to a farm near Elberon. She attended school in Elberon and later obtained her high school diploma from La Salle University.
On June 15, 1936 she was united in marriage to John L. Kopecky at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Vining, Iowa. They were married sixty three years before John's passing on February 14, 2000. They lived most of their married life in Toledo. In addition to caring for her home and family, Ollie also worked for the Toledo schools in the lunchroom for many years. She did a lot of volunteer work in the Tama-Toledo area. She was active in taking art classes at Kirkwood College and made many beautiful paintings which she shared with her family. She also had an interest in making unique candles that were sold at Marshall Field's in Chicago. Ollie was an avid buyer and seller of antiques and traveled to many antique shows. She was a member of the Tama-Toledo Country Club and liked to golf and attend the social events. She also enjoyed playing bridge with her friends and time spent with the coffee club. Ollie was also a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Tama, the Council of Catholic Women, and the Toledo American Legion Auxiliary.
Ollie was devoted to her church and her family and always enjoyed spending time with them. She loved to dance with her husband John - especially the waltz.
To her family she was a great role model. She was loved and cherished as a wife, mother grandmother, and great-grandmother for her kindness and her strength - she remains in our hearts.
Survivors include her three daughters, Jeannice Ramsdell of Dubuque, Sherry (Richard) Benda of Ankeny, and Susan (Michael) Hobbs of Brooklyn Park, MN; eleven grandchildren; eighteen great-grandchildren; and four great-great grandchildren; and a sister-in-law, Agnes Kalina of Elberon.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, John; two brothers, Emil and Milo Kalina; three sisters, Agnes Kopriva, Sylvia Hala, and Mildred Dostal; and a son-in-law, Gary A. Ramsdell.
A memorial fund has been established.