Marcella Kala

Marcella Kala, age 96, of Spillville, Iowa, died on Friday, May 11, 2007, at the Barthell Eastern Star Nursing Home in Decorah, IA, after a long illness. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Tuesday, May 15, 2007, at 10:30 a.m. at the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Spillville, Iowa, by Rev. Donald Hawes with burial in the church cemetery Visitation will be on Monday, May 14, 2007, from 3:00 – 8:00 at the Balik Funeral Home in Spillville, Iowa, with a rosary at 4:00 and a scripture service at 7:00. There will also be visitation after 9:30 a.m. at the church on Tuesday morning. Marcella “Marc” Frances (Banasik) Kala was born on March 9, 1911, the daughter of Wencel and Mary (Spika) Banasik in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Marc graduated from Central High School in LaCrosse, WI. Marc worked at the LaCrosse Garment Co. in the shipping dept. She married Fred “Fritz” Kala on January 24, 1933 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in LaCrosse, WI. They met through the National Czech organization Sokol. Marc was an avid fan of the Iowa Hawkeye Men’s Basketball team. She did cross-stitch embroidery and Czech stitchery. Marc enjoyed playing cards and bingo, going out to eat and her family. She was a member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church and the Ladies Guild. Marcella entered the Eastern Star this past July. Marcella survivors include her two daughters: Patricia (John) Wiest Spillville, IA and Rose Marie “Susie” Vollmecke, Romeoville, IL. One son: William (Dorothy) Kala, Leonard, MI. Daughter–in-law Carol Kala Berwyn, IL. Eight grandchildren: Sister Dr. Jeanne M. Wiest, OP Phd, Eagle River, WI; Kathleen English, Rochester Hills, MI; Robert (Sheri) Wiest, Macomb, MI; Daniel Wiest, Detroit, MI; Greg Wiest, Rochester Hills, MI; Fred (Kristie) Kala, Yorkville, IL; Steve (Karen) Kala, Montgomery, IL; and Jeffrey (Ashley) Kala, Anaway, MI. Five great grandchildren: Christina English, Melanie Kala, Nicole Kala, Brooke Kala and Megan Kala. One brother: Edward (Helen) Banasik, LaCrosse, WI. One sister: Marie Olson, Minneapolis MN. Two sisters-in-law: Ruth Banasik, Genoa, WI. and Nora Banasik, LaCrosse, WI. Marcella was preceded in death by her parents: Wenzel and Mary Banasik; her husband: Fred “Fritz” Kala on August 17, 1995. One son: Fred G. “Butch” Kala on February 1, 2006. One son-in-law: Matt Vollmecke. One grandson: Michael Vollmecke. Four sisters: Adeline Banasik, Rita Bye, Alice Gray and Dorothy Banasik. Five brothers: Ted Banasik, Leonard Banasik, Robert Banasik, George Banasik and Bernard Banasik.