Bertha Jezek

Bertha Jezek, 94, of Diagonal passed away Monday, Jan. 18, 2021, at Greater Regional Hospice Home in Creston. Services will be 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021, at Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr with open visitation from 2 to 7 p.m. Friday.

Burial will be in the Bohemian Cemetery. Online condolences may be left at www.armstrongfh.com.

Bertha “Bert” Mae (Brown) Jezek was born on a farm southwest of Diagonal to Vern Francis and Beatrice Merle (Everhart) Brown Feb. 1, 1926.

During her early years, Bert moved from farm to farm with her parents and siblings in rural Diagonal and Clearfield. Eventually they moved to rural Mount Ayr. Bert graduated from Mount Ayr High School in May 1943.

At 17, she applied to the State of Iowa for special certification to begin teaching at country school.

Bert was united in marriage to Joe Junior (Jake) Jezek Aug. 19, 1944, at Epworth Methodist Church in Des Moines. Following their marriage, they moved in with Jake’s parents, Joseph A. and Matilda (Skroh) Jezek, on their farm south of Diagonal.

On Jan. 18, 1951, Bert and Jake welcomed their only child, Barbara Elaine.

Following her teaching in country schools, Bert taught elementary school in Clearfield from 1961 to 1962, in Diagonal from 1962 to 1975 and in Creston from 1975 until her retirement in 1988.

During the 1960s, Bert attained her bachelor’s degree in education from Drake University. Later she earned two master’s degrees — in learning disabilities and elementary supervision — from Northwest Missouri State University.

During their married life, Bert and Jake enjoyed music, nature, friends and family. Bert enjoyed spending hours in the garden.

Her daughter Barbara married Jerry Stephens May 4, 1968. Jerry and Barb moved into the family’s Century Farm in 1975 and Bert and Jake became their neighbors. Barb and Jerry had two children, Lesa and Terri.

In Sept. 1997, a whole new generation of blessings entered Bert and Jake’s lives with the birth of three great-grandchildren: Kirsten, Kyle, and Alyssa. The fourth grandchild, Cole, followed in April 2000, and she gained three step-grandchildren: Cody, Kaci, and Jamie Stackhouse in 2010.

Jake passed away Aug. 19, 2000, 57 years to the day after Bert and Jake said “I do.”

In 2004, Bert met Dale Juergens of Clearfield. They spent time dancing, going out to eat, relaxing with family, and spending time with Bert’s siblings.

Bert is survived by her daughter Barbara (Jerry) Stephens; granddaughters Lesa (Rob) Stackhouse and Terri (Matt) Higgins; great-grandchildren: Cody (Logan) Stackhouse, Kaci (Brandon) Frey, Kirsten and Kyle Dolecheck, Alyssa and Cole Higgins and Jamie Stackhouse; great-great grandchild Tate Frey; siblings: Vern Junior “Bud” Brown, Evelyn Sickels, Janis (Jerry) Sabin and Donna Sickels; 10 nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by husband Jake; parents Vern and Beatrice Brown; mother- and father-in-law Joseph and Matilda Jezek; sister and brother-in-law Doris (Bill) Overholser; brothers-in-law Elbert Sobotka and Sam Sickels; sister-in-law Jean Brown; late-life companion Dale Juergens; many aunts, uncles, and cousins.