Michael Vodraska

Michael Vodraska, 75, of Clarion passed away Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at his home in Clarion.

Funeral services for Mike Vodraska will be held at 10:30 AM on Monday, December 8, 2014, at St. John’s Catholic Church, 608 2nd Avenue North East in Clarion with Father Jerry Blake officiating.

Visitation for Mike Vodraska will be held on Sunday, December 7, 2014 from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM, with a Scriptural Wake service beginning at 5:45 PM at Ewing Funeral Home, 1801 Central Avenue East in Clarion. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the services at the church on Monday.

Michael W. Vodraska was born July 10, 1939 to Wenceslav and Justine (Klinkenborg) Vodraska in Spirit Lake, Iowa.

Mike graduated from Lakota High School and continued his education in Minneapolis where he was trained as a lab technician.

Mike was united in marriage to Carol Janssen on October 20, 1962 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Mason City.  The couple made their home in Ames.  To this union, Christine and Michelle were born.

During his working career, Mike worked as a lab technician at the Clarion Hospital which brought he and Carol to Clarion.  He later worked for the railroad and for Hagie Manufacturing in Clarion until he began Vodraska Refrigeration in 1977.  Mike took great pride in his work ethic, and continued working as recently as Thanksgiving this year.

Mike enjoyed riding motorcycles, dancing, gardening, cooking and carpentry, but working was his hobby and his love.  He enjoyed spending time on the farm working and had a soft spot for Miss Kitty, Buddy and his other stray dogs and cats that would congregate there.

Mike is survived by his wife Carol of Clarion; daughters Christine (Marvin) Redenius of Belmond and Michelle (fiancé Kevin Speirs) of Clarion; grandchildren Ryan (Kara) Redenius and their children Rylee and Khloe, Rochelle (Quinten) Kruszka and their daughter Bijou, Reid (Brittany) Redenius and their children Paxton and Cyprus, Morgan Vodraska and Alexis McOllough-Vodraska; brothers Stanley (Florence) Vodraska of Niagara Falls, Canada and James (Rita) Vodraska of Norwalk, Iowa; sister-in-law Agnes Hartman of Crystal Lake, along with numerous nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, his brother John Vodraska, sister-in-law Dorothy Vodraska and nephew Wence Vodraska.