Obituary of Betty M. Sedlacek

Betty M. Sedlacek, 88 of rural Iowa City died Saturday, May 9, 2015, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 am Thursday, May 14, 2015, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Iowa City (Sunday Parking Ordinance will be in effect for streets near the church). Burial will be at the St. Joseph Cemetery in Iowa City. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 pm Wednesday at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service where a parish vigil service will begin at 4 pm. Betty Mae (Kabela) Sedlacek was born on January 15, 1927, the daughter of Ed and Alice (Smith) Kabela. She grew up in Iowa City attending Horace Mann Elementary, Central Jr. High and graduating from City High in 1945. Following graduation, she attended Iowa City Business College and worked in Dietary Department at the University of Iowa Hospitals. On June 5, 1946, she was united in marriage to Donald W. Sedlacek in Iowa City. The couple moved to a farm north of Iowa City in Newport Township, where she began her new career as a farmer! While raising a family of 8 boys, she enjoyed gardening, raising beagle dogs, and dancing with Don. They attended St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church and Betty later joined St. Mary's. Catholic Church. Later in life, Betty wasn't about to let technology get by her, she took it upon herself to learn the computer. She loved email and Facebook as it allowed her to stay in contact with family and friends. She especially loved the pictures of Grands and Great-Grands and special events. Her family includes her 8 sons, James, Richard (Sue), Michael (Arla), William (Cherit), Dennis (Lisa), Charles (Margaret), Daniel (Shari), and Donald (Deanna), 18 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, several cousins, nieces and nephews. Also left to cherish her memory are sisters, Marilyn Jensen and Pat Pirkl and sister-in-law Alice Cole. Betty was preceded in death by an infant son, Robert; husband, Don in 1979; her parents, brothers-in-law, Warren Beltz, Dean Cole, Richard Jensen, and Don Pirkl; and sister-in-law, Marcella Beltz. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Services is caring for Betty's family and her services