Person:Charles Vopalensky (1)

Cedar Rapids Gazette Cedar Rapids, Iowa Wednesday, September 13, 1989 Charles A. Vopalensky, 87, died in his residence Monday following a sudden illness. He was a retired farmer and janitor. Surviving are two brothers, William and Joseph, both of Scappoose, Ore.; two sisters, Ann Barta of Scappoose and Albina Heindl of Portland, Ore. Services: 10 a.m. Friday, St. Michael's Catholic Church. Burial: International Cemetery, Luzerne, with military rites by Belle Plaine Legion. Friends may call after 4 p.m. Thursday at Hrabak's, where a prayer service will be held at 6:30 p.m.

What follows is family lore from his oldest living relatives (his youngest sister and nephew):

Charlie owned an Allis Chalmers tractor and did work on various farms around Scappoose.

He served in the military, perhaps WWII? Records have yet to be found of this.

Charlie's father visited a Czech community in the midwest, and came back with Frances as a housekeeper (presumably this means it was after his wife died). Charlie later married her, likely the result his father intended, as there had been rumors about his sexual orientation. Though the latter was confirmed when Frances confided to her nephew that "your uncle is not for ladies."

After his wife died, he returned to Scappoose and lived briefly with his eldest sister, and, after a falling out, lived in a small house down the road. It is not known when he moved back to Iowa.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Charles Vopalensky, in Find A Grave.
2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index: Death Master File, database. (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service).

   "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JTWL-NMW : 11 January 2021), Charles A Vopalensky, 11 Sep 1989; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).

3. ↑ Iowa commission of Veterans Affairs. Armed Forces Grave Registration Records, 1776-1998.

   "Iowa, Armed Forces Grave Registrations, ca. 1835-1998," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL2V-3TZR : 11 February 2019), Charles A Vopalensky, 11 Sep 1989; citing Belle Plaine, Benton, Iowa, United States, The State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines.; FHL microfilm 2,210,591.