David A. Popelka, 93, of Cedar Rapids passed away peacefully in his home Friday, March 15, 2024. Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Monday, March 25, 2024, at Radiant Church, 3233 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Celebration of Life Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at Radiant Church. Burial will be in Czech National Cemetery. David Allan Popelka was born June 3, 1930, in Cedar Rapids, the son of Harold and Ruth (Hruska) Popelka. He grew up on 21st Street SE and his favorite playground was at the end of the street in Van Vechten Park on the hills and valleys where the creek emptied into the Cedar River. He met his future wife Marilyn Rose Svec in 1946 at Hus Memorial Presbyterian Church. They initially became friends as members of the choir and youth group and began to date when Marilyn invited him to Rainbow Dances. In 1948 Dave started his career at CR Engineering where his foreman and greatest instructor turned out to be Marilyn’s dad, George Svec. He went to Buchanan Elementary School and graduated in 1948 from McKinley High School where he was introduced to his love of metalworking. His career began in 1948 at Cedar Rapids Engineering (Kwik Way Mfg.) where he worked as a tool room machinist. In January 1951 Dave enlisted in the Army serving as a machinist in a Railroad Shop Battalion in Korea for 21 months. His relationship with Marilyn continued to grow as hundreds of letters were exchanged during this time away. In February 1954 they were married on Valentine’s Day. For two months they sketched floorplans for their home they wanted to build. The construction began in June of 1954, moving in in February of 1955. After his discharge in January of 1954, he worked as a model shop machinist at PAL Engineering. In 1957 he started working at Square D Company in Cedar Rapids as a tool and die mold-maker. In 1967 he was asked by Kirkwood Community College to fill an opening as the machinist instructor where he started his 25-year career of sharing his love of machinist work with hundreds of men and women, including his sons. He retired from Kirkwood in 1992. During his retirement years Dave’s favorite playground was his basement workshop, which was well equipped with wood and metalworking equipment. Dave loved making gifts for family, friends, and gift items for his daughter Karen to sell at her café, Kava House in Swisher. Dave loved camping, enjoying the kids’ activities, and picnicking in the early years. He loved traveling, staying in bed and breakfasts and overseas trips, including Hawaii, Europe and Israel/Egypt. His relationship with God began in the mid-1940s when a friend Dick Felter invited him to a Bible club for young people that met at his home where his mother, Martha was one of the leaders. The Bible lessons, Bible verses memorized, and clear presentation of the Gospel led Dave to accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior at an evangelistic crusade at Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The growth of his relationship with Christ continued in Korea under the ministry of Chaplain John Muller and Inchon, along with special friendship with wonderful Christian military friends and Korean believers. In the 1960s Marilyn and Dave were invited to a Friday night Bible study by Keith Gilmore, an ex-Marine and graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary, who was also a pastor of a church in New London, Iowa. Many lives were transformed as a result of this man’s years of coming to Cedar Rapids, teaching a walk through the Old Testament- a study linked to the Old Testament promises, covenants and prophecies with their New Testament fulfillment. During the years at Hus Memorial Dave was in the choir, worked with youth ministry, taught teenage Sunday School class and served many years as an Elder. In 1983, First Assembly became their church home where he taught a class for new believers and seekers, also serving as an elder until the end of 2017. Survivors include his wife, Marilyn; his children, Jim (Julie) Popelka, Karen (Craig) Vondracek and Tom (Becky) Popelka; six grandchildren, Jessica (Clint) Mersch, Jacob Popelka, Jocelyn (Zach) Johnston, Austin (Leah) Vondracek, Leesha (Jamie) Murray, and Bryce Popelka; ten great-grandchildren, Brecken and Maxton Mersch, Ford, Helen, Alden, and Thatcher Vondracek, Brooklyn Popelka and Lakelan, Willa, and Harlow Murray; his sister-in-law Judy Svec; as well as his nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Mary (Bill) Dykhuizen, and brother-in-law Gary Svec. Memorials may be directed to Radiant Church. The family would like to extend a special thank-you to the staff of Mercy Medical Center and Hospice of Mercy for their loving care of David. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.broshchapel.com.
