Person:Fredrick Tayek (1)

From the October 21, 1981, edition of the Postville (IA) Herald

Hold Services For Monona Man

Funeral services for Frederick Tayek, 98, of Monona, were held October 19, 2 pm at Schultz's Funeral Home, conducted by Rev. Curtis Webster and AF & AM Clayton Lodge #70. Burial was in the Monona City Cemetery.

Frederick Lestina Tayek was born in a log house on the Anton Pexa Tayek farm (now owned by James Tayek), the sixth child of Anton and Anna Lestina Tayek, May 16, 1883. He died October 16, 1981, at the Guttenberg Memorial Hospital, having reached the age of 98 years and 5 months. He received his education in a Giard Township rural school.

In 1903 he went to San Francisco and was employed as a tank painter by an oil refinery at Oceana. He was there during the earthquake in June 1905. The same year he returned to Monona.

He observed and assisted a paper hanger that his parents engaged and thus learned the trade. He also trained as a wood finisher with a decorator and soon began this profession on his own. As an interior decorator and exterior painter he worked throughout northeast Iowa. He enjoyed his work which he did for many years. He married Elizabeth O'Neil of Monona October 5, 1909. To this union was born one son, Raymond.

He was initiated into the the AF & AM Clayton Lodge #70 in 1919. Later he joined the consistory at Clinton as a 32nd degree mason. He has also been a member of the El Kahir Shrine of Cedar Rapids.

He lived in Monona until 1973, and has been a resident of the Riverview Care Center in Guttenberg for the past 8 years. He remained mentally alert and enjoyed those who visited him.

He was preceded in death by his parents Anton and Anna Tayek, his wife Elizabeth, his son and daughter-in-law Raymond and Margo Tayek, three sisters, one who died in infancy, Mary and Elizabeth (Mrs. William Kozelka), seven brothers, John, Joseph, Benjamin, Anton Jr., Jacob, Frank and Michael.

He is survived by four grandsons, Raymond Tayek Jr., William Tayek, Frederick Michael Tayek, and Dr. John Anthony Tayek, off of Anaheim, California, two sisters-in-law, Mrs. Jacob Tayek of St. Paul, Minn., and Mrs. Frank Tayek, a resident of the McGregor Care Center, one brother-in-law, William Kozelka of Postville, many nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

Fred enjoyed people, and had made many lasting friendships wherever he went. He was a sportsman, enjoyed hunting and fishing, having made many trips into Canada, as well as having spent much time on the Mississippi River.