Grace McNeal

Grace M. (Komarek) McNeal, age 85 of Protivin, Iowa died Sunday, August 18, 2013, at Regional Health Services in Cresco. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday August 21, 2013 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Protivin with Rev. Nick March celebrating the Mass. The pall will be placed by her children. Lector for the service will be Joanie Swestka. Presenting the offertory gifts will be Terry Bales and Krystle Bales. Interment will be in the church cemetery with Bud Svoboda, Larry Svoboda, Ron Swestka, John Swestka Jr., Gary Swestka and Bernie Pecinovsky. Friends may greet the family 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 20, 2013, at the Hugeback-Johnson Protivin Funeral Home where there will also be a 4:00 p.m.Rosary and a 6:00 p.m. Scripture Service. Further visitation will be 9:30a.m. - 10:15 a.m. at the funeral home on Wednesday morning. Grace Marie (Komarek) McNeal was born January 9, 1928,the only child of Benjamin and Gertrude (Beckman) Kalishek. She received all her education in Protivin and graduated from Rudolphinium High School in 1946. She was united in marriage to her classmate and high school sweetheart, Clarence E. Komarek, on June 8, 1948, at the Holy Trintiy Catholic Church in Protivin. To this union six children were born. The couple lived and farmed side-by-side on the Komarek Family farm just west of Protivin. Family always came first to Grace and the couple also enjoyed socializing and visiting with their neighbors. A family vacation was always important to Grace and Clarence. Grace also worked at Sara Lee in New Hampton for over 25 years. Clarence died in 1978 at the age of 51. Grace lived a few years in Iowa City and later met and married Loren “Smokey” McNeal. He died in 2011. Baking kolaches and rolickies were a favorite pastime for Grace. Survivors include three sons, Dennis Komarek, Merlin Komarek, both of Protivin and Alvin (Deb) Komarek of Tulsa, OK; two daughters,Patricia (Ty) Drago of Tulsa and Terry (Phillip) Bales of Inola, OK; two grandchildren, Krystle Bales of Inola and Taylor Komarek of Tulsa. She was preceded in death by her parents and both her husbands; one son, Joseph in infancy.