In 1923 they were living on a farm between Calmar and Spillville when diphtheria struck in their home. They were quarantined to their farm and had to rely on their good neighbors, the Mashek’s, to bring them groceries, which had to be left by the railroad track. Little Victor Joseph died of diphtheria 11 Sep 1923.

Adolph and Emma left the farm and moved back to Spillville where they made their home the remainder of their lives. During this time Adolph hauled cream for farmers using horses, and worked in construction. Before his retirement he spent several years managing the Bernatz Feed Mill in Spillville. Emma was very ambitious and learned many trades. She operated a Millinery Shop in Spillville with her sisters, Anna and Mary, where they gave sewing lessons, sewed for customers and created fashionable hats for their clientele. Emma also cooked wedding dinners, preparing all the meats and trimmings-always making dozens of angel-food cakes. Besides cooking the food, she made the wedding attire-as many as eight bridesmaids dresses for one occasion.

Adolph died 29 Jul 1970 and Emma passed away 12 Sep 1977. They are buried in the St. Wenceslaus Cemetery in Spillville.

Adolph and Emma Ira on their wedding day

Ira, Charles and Dolores (Jarosh)

(Dolores E. Ira)

Charles Ira, son of Adolph and Emma (Cibuzar) Ira, was born in Winneshiek County, IA, He attended the Catholic and Public Elementary schools in Spillville and Calmar High School. When WWII broke out Charles was a senior. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was sworn in on 25 Feb 1943, his 17th birthday. He was assigned to the Battleship, USS Texas, commissioned in 1914 and which served in WWI.

Charles served as a gunner’s mate and pointer on the quad-mount 40 millimeter anti-aircraft. During his military career, the Battleship Texas served convoy duty on one trip to Gibraltar, 2 trips to Belfast, Ireland and 2 trips to Scotland. In the European Theatre of War the battleship spent one year on the Pacific Ocean taking part in the invasion of Normandy and Southern France. In the Asiatic and Pacific Theatre, the Texas was in the invasion of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. The “dreadnought”, as it was frequently referred

to, was at its station at Iwo Jima when the historic moment took place 50 years ago—the raising of the American Flag. The USS Texas is moored in the San Jacinto Bay, Houston, TX completing a several million dollar restoration. Charles received an honorable discharge 8 Feb 1946.

Charles married Dolores Jarosh, the daughter of Albert and Agnes (Klimesh) Jarosh, at Assumption Church, Little Turkey, IA on 7 May 1951. Dolores was born in Chickasaw Co., IA and received her elementary education in a rural school. She attended St. Wenceslaus High School and Mt. Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, IA. In 1951 Charles and Dolores purchased the Spillville Feed Mill which they operated for 30 years. They made their home in Spillville and belonged to St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church where all the children were baptized and confirmed. Charles and Dolores were blessed with 7 children: Rona, Peggy, Nancy, Cindy, Jeffrey, Teresa and Terry. All the children attended the Catholic Grade School in Spillville and South Winneshiek High School in Calmar.

Rona attended University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA and received her B.A. in Vocational Home Economics in 1974. She married Stanlee Messmore in 1976 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church. They have 3 children: Scott,  Patrick  and Brenton . Rona received her M.A. Ed. in School Counseling in 1992 from UNI. She now is single and lives with her sons in Hudson, IA. She is Counselor with the Cedar Falls Community Schools in Cedar Falls. Rona keeps busy attending the boy's school activities, enjoys sports, crafting and carpentry.

Peggy  received her B.A. in Art from UNI in 1975 and married Mark Chardoulias in 1976 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church. They have 2 children: Nicholas and Andy . Peggy is now single and lives with her sons in Camanche, IA. She teaches Jr. High and High School Art at East Central Schools of Miles and Sabula, IA and fills her spare time with crafts, carpentry and attending the boy’s ball games.

Nancy received her B.A. from UNI in Vocational Home Economics in 1979. She married Steve McGrew 26 Nov 1977 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church. They have 2 Korean-born children: Erin and Alex . They live in Independence, IA where Nancy is affiliated with State Farm Insurance and Steve is a teacher in the Vinton Community Schools. Nancy enjoys walking for fittness, crafts, quilting and attending the children’s school activities.

Cindy received her R.N. Diploma from Allen Memorial School of Nursing, Waterloo, IA in 1979. She married Rev. Galen Smith on 15 Sep 1990 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church. Their adopted son Jason was born in Korea . They make their home in Greene, IA where Cindy works in Community Nursing in conjunction with the Floyd Co. Memorial Hospital. Galen serves as pastor of First Presbyterian Church. Cindy enjoys crafts and singing and has been a member of the Cedar Falls Chapter of Sweet Adelines for 11 years.

Jeffrey  attended NICC, Calmar, lAand received an A.A. in Auto Mechanics in 1983. He is a motorcycle enthusiast and has cycled his Harley through 49 of