Robert Hudek 
— Creston

Robert “Bob” Hudek, 63, of Creston died Jan. 14, 2012, at his home.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. The Rev. Joseph Pins and Msgr. Michael Sernett will officiate. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery south of Creston. Military graveside rites will be conducted by Theodore J. Martens V.F.W. Post 1797 of Creston. Open visitation will be 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday with family present 5 to 8 p.m. and a 6 p.m. Christian Wake Service at Powers Funeral Home, junction of highways 25 and 34. Memorials are to be established in his name. Online condolences may be left at www.powersfh.com.

Robert Steven Hudek, son of Sadona “Sadie” Marcella (Hronek) and Verle Leo Hudek, was born March 11, 1948, in Laurens.

Bob graduated from Pocahontas Catholic High School in 1966 and studied at Omaha Arts School.

Bob then served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War, from November 1968 to July 1970.

Returning to school, he studied at Sioux Empire College in Hawarden and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in science in 1975 at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Mo.

On Oct. 24, 1975, Bob married Sydney Marie Harrold in Atlantic.

They moved to Creston in 1975, where Bob worked as the Creston city recreation director until 1985.

They moved to Rolfe and worked for a short time, before Bob was hired at the United States Post Office, working out of Omaha.

Bob transferred and moved back to Creston, working as a letter carrier, until his hip replacement in 2001.

He finished working as the officer in charge with the Thayer Post Office, retiring because of health in January 2011.

Bob had also worked as a SWCC softball coach for two years and taught hunter safety Courses locally for the state of Iowa.

Bob was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church, B.P.O. Elks Lodge No. 605, Theodore J. Martens Post No. 1797 V.F.W., American Legion Post No. 70, all of Creston. He also belonged to the Amateur Trapshooting Association, Iowa High Lakes Alliance, National Shoot to Retrieve Association, serving as a field trial judge, National Rifleman Association and Iowa Gun Dog Association.

Bob is survived by his wife Sydney Hudek of Creston; daughters, Megan Hudek (significant other Darren Butler) of Lenexa, Kan., and Erin (husband Jeremiah) Jondle of Creston; sons, Tim (wife Ashleah) Hudek of Creston and Robb of Denver, Colo.; grandchildren, Kaden and Adelynn Hudek, Jaxson and Austin Jondle and Skyler, Chandler, Nick and Brooklyn Butler; brothers, Richard (wife Bella) Hudek of Seattle, Wash., Denny (wife Sue) Hudek of Pocahontas and Tom “Skinner” Hudek (significant other Tammy Wagner) of Spencer; sisters, Sue (husband Larry) DeBuse of Bella Vista, Ark., Connie (husband Dennis) Habben of Palmer and Debbie (husband Larry) Bevins of Pocahontas; brothers-in-law, Kevin (wife Denise) Harrold of Machesney Park, Ill., and Mark Harrold of Buda, Texas; and sister-in-law Kris (husband Ron) Lampe of Havelock.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents and a son in infancy, John Michael Hudek.