Gerald L. Dostal

Wednesday, July 15, 2015 5:05 pm

Gerald L. Dostal, 88, of Decorah, formerly of Protivin, passed away Thursday, July 9, 2015, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minn. A memorial Mass was at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 18, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, with Father Nick March officiating. Burial is at the church cemetery at a later date. Visitation was 9:30-10:30 a.m., Saturday, at the church. Hindt-Hudek Funeral Home, 123 North Main St. in Protivin, was is in charge of arrangements.
Gerald Louis Dostal was born in Protivin Jan. 29, 1927, the second son of William C. and Pauline (Chipera) Dostal. He was a member of Holy Trinity Parish and attended the parochial school, graduating from Rudolphinum High School in 1944. Upon graduation he served in the United States Coast Guard on the Steamer H.T. Ewig, part of the Columbia Transportation Company on the Great Lakes until Dec. 1944.  He enlisted in the United States Navy Jan. 24, 1945, during WWII serving active time in the South China Sea on the Destroyer USS Sierra based in the port of Shanghai, China. He received his honorable discharge in Minneapolis, Minn., Aug. 6, 1946, with the rank of Signalman 3-C United States Navy. On completion of his military service he attended Loras College in Dubuque, graduating with a BA in economics in January 1950. He began working at the Bohemian Savings Bank in Protivin shortly after graduation. He remained there until his retirement Dec. 31, 1988. Gerald married JoAnn Voyek at Holy Trinity Church, Protivin, Sept. 24, 1951. To this union three daughters were born,: Christel Renae Dostal, Cheryl Diane Hodgerson and Dorene Anne (Daniel) Johnson. There are two grandchildren, Heather (Kyle) Kirchhoff and Holly (Matt Sleger) Hodgerson. Gerald was active in the community; he was a member of the American Legion, served on the Holy Trinity Parish Council, Howard County Hospital Board, Decorah State Bank Board and Community First Bank Board among others. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping with family, spending weekends on the Mississippi with family and, in later years, woodcarving, repairing and rebuilding clocks and gardening. With his wife, he visited most of the states and national parks.
Gerald is survived by his wife of 63 years, JoAnn; his three daughters and two granddaughters; one brother, Ronald (Agnes) Dostal; sisters-in-law: Susan Belschner, Barbara Buckton and Jane Voyek.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William C. and Pauline Dostal; a brother, William G. Dostal; and a brother-in-law, Larry Voyek.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to Holy Trinity Catholic School or Winneshiek Medical Center.