BRONSON, Iowa -- Clyde Erwin Vondrak, 52, of Bronson died Friday, March 12, 2011, at his home.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Elliott Creek Presbyterian Church in Bronson, with the Rev.Cyndy Ripperger officiating. Burial will be in Floyd Township Cemetery, Bronson. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m., and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home in Sioux City. Online condolences can be sent to
www.christysmith.com
.
Clyde was born Jan. 3, 1959, in Sioux City, to Henry and Ruth (Pierce) Vondrak. He grew up in Hinton, Iowa, and lived his adult life in Bronson. He graduated from Hinton High School in 1977. Shortly after graduation, Clyde went to work for Smurfit-Stone Container in Sioux City.
On Feb. 11, 1978, he married Jean Wingert at the Community Presbyterian Church of Lawton, Iowa. The couple made their home in Bronson and had three children, Vanessa, Emily and Adam. In 2008, after 31 years with Smurfit-Stone, Clyde decided to make a career change, and he started working for the Farmers Co-op Elevator of Kingsley, Iowa, something he truly loved and continued to do so until his health failed. Clyde also loved to help several area farmers with harvest each year.
He was a member of the Elliott Creek Presbyterian Church of Bronson. He was "Uncle Sam" in the July 4th parade at Bronson, and he coached T-ball and softball for several years while his kids were growing up. His hobbies included raising livestock, especially the cattle, and collecting toy tractors, "Allis Chalmers" specifically. Clyde also enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his two grandsons, Matthew and Gage.
Survivors include his wife, Jean of Bronson; daughters, Vanessa and Jerry Otterpohl of Las Vegas, Nev., Emily Vondrak of Bronson, a son, Adam Vondrak of Sioux City; two grandsons, Matthew Vondrak and Gage Otterpohl; seven sisters, Ruth Gotch, Virginia Fickle, Betty and Gene Monasco, Martha and Harvey Jenkins, Carlene and Dan Afdahl, Dixie and Frank Rich and Candy and Dennis Ragan; three brothers, Tom Vondrak, Jim and April Vondrak and Leon and Cathy Vondrak; and numerous nieces and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Ruth Vondrak; sisters, Katherine "Boots" Rosenbaum, Rita Nolan and Nina Snyder Rohan; and several nieces and nephews.