Arlene Vrzak

Arlene Agnes Vrzak age 89 of Waucoma, IA, died Wednesday, August 5, 2015, at Mercy Medical Center in New Hampton. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, August 8, 2015, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Waucoma, with Rev. Nick March celebrating the Mass. Interment will be at St. Mary's Cemetery in Waucoma. Friends may greet the family 4:00 - 7:30 p.m. Friday, August 7, 2015, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Waucoma, where there will be a 4:00 p.m. Rosary and a 7:30 p.m. Scripture Service. Visitation continues 9:30 a.m. until the service Saturday at the church. Arlene Agnes Vrzak was born May 8, 1926 South of Waucoma, Iowa on the family farm. She was the daughter of Julius and Mayme (Schlichte) Bouska. When Arlene was young she enjoyed helping her mother with homemaking duties around the farm, learning life long skills. She attended St. Marys Catholic School in Waucoma before going to Alpha High School and graduating in 1944. On June 6, 1944 at St. Marys Catholic Church in Waucoma, Arlene married the love of her life, Frank Vrzak. The couple moved to a farm west of Jackson Junction where Arlene and Frank lived and worked side by side. Arlene lived there for over 71 years. Arlene was very active in the Waucoma community. She was a member of many organizations including, St. Marys Catholic Church, Jackson Homemakers Club and Waucoma Jolly Old Timers Senior Club. She liked playing bingo and different card games along with slot machines at the casino, traveling to Branson, Missouri often. She always loved to dance. Frank and Arlene would go to many dances together; they originally first met at a wedding dance. She loved to bake and cook along with sew, learning many of those talents from helping her mother when she was young. Arlene took great pride in her children, believing her ten children were her biggest accomplishment. Her family will miss her love and kindness tremendously. Arlene is survived by ten children, Phyllis (Tracy Butikofer) Fosaaen of West Union, IA, Dick Vrzak of Waucoma, IA, Doris (Gary) Wood of Waverly, IA, Diane (Mark) Tieskotter of Cresco, IA, Mary (Gary) Cihla of Tripoli, IA, Rodney Vrzak of Waucoma, IA, Elizabeth “Betty” Eskildsen of Powder Springs, GA, Alice (Jerome) Palas of Cedar Falls, IA, Linda (Duane) Heiselman of New Hampton, IA, Martin (Sue) Vrzak of Eldersburg, MD; 28 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; three brothers, LaVerne (Alberta) Bouska of Lawler, IA, Joe Bouska of Charles City, IA, Cletus (Lorna) Bouska of Waucoma, IA; two sisters, Verna Rimrodt of Alta Vista, IA, Irma (Robert) Kime of Fayette, IA; one sister-in-law Doris Bouska of Hawkeye, IA. She was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years Frank; her parents; one son-in-law, Irvin Fosaaen; one granddaughter, Brenda Rich; three brothers, John Bouska, Clifford Bouska, Jim Bouska; two sisters, Margaret Diebler, Donna Hrdlicka.