Obituary of Jaro L. Lepic

Jaro Louis Lepic died Monday, May 14th, 2012 at Mercy Hospital with his wife and family by his side. Funeral services will be held at 12 noon, Friday, May 18, 2012, at the First United Methodist Church in Iowa City. (Sunday parking ordinance will be in effect for the streets near the church) Burial with Military Honors will be at Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City. Friends and family are invited to a reception to celebrate Jaro's life at the Clarion Highlander immediately after the burial services. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 pm Thursday at Gay & Ciha Funeral Service, and after 11am Friday at the church. In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to Hospice of Mercy Hospital in Iowa City or a charity of the donor's choice. Online condolences may be sent for Jaro's family through the web @ www.gayandciha.com. Jaro was born on May 31st, 1924 in Iowa City, Iowa, son of Otto Wesley and Bozena (Bessie) Cermak Lepic. He took pride in his Bohemian Heritage and his Goose Town upbringing. Three of his favorite foods were his mother's speciatlies; plum dumplings and liver dumpling soup and hoskas, a tradition carried on today by his grandchildren. While growing up, Jaro was a boy scout and member of the Sokol Youth Gymnastics Team. He excelled in the horizontal bars, rings, and pommel horse. In 8th grade he received the most improved basketball player award. At City High School Jaro lettered in basketball and football. He was elected the captain of the 1942 Little Hawk Basketball team. Jaro graduated from City High in 1942 as the President of the Senior Class. After graduation Jaro enlisted in the United States Marine Corp Air Force and served his country proudly as a machine gunner in a Dive Bomber during WWII. In 1945 his squadron was stationed on the USS Salerno Bay Aircraft Carrier and saw duty in the Pacific. In the Marine Corp. Jaro was the Welter Weight Boxing Champion, knocking out the Golden Gloves Champion of the state of New York. Jaro returned home at Christmas time in 1945, went to Great Lakes Naval Base and in March was mustered out as a Staff Sergeant. In June 1946 Jaro married his loving wife Reta Douglas at the First United Methodist Church. His intentions were to attend the University of Iowa in the fall, but his temporary summer job at Iowa Illinois Gas and Electric turned into his permanent job of 40 years. He retired in May 1986. Married 65 years, Jaro and Reta had three sons, 9 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. Jaro enjoyed hunting, mushrooming, and his annual fishing trips to Northern Minnesota with his family, and after retirement his annual trips to Gulfport, Mississippi with his wife Reta. Known throughout Iowa City as avid walkers, Jaro and Reta were seen daily hitting the sidewalks from their Court Street home and no one interrupted his Sunday Bears games. Jaro is preceeded in death by his parents and two brothers Otto and George, and two grandchildren, Danny and Andy. He is survived by his wife, Reta, sons Steve (Alicia), Ted (Kate Kostenbader) and Tom (Polly), his sister Betty (Walter) Shaffer and sister-in-law Margaret (Myles) Harai, grandchildren Lisa Lepic, Catharine Lepic, Jaro John Lepic, Nate Lepic, Matt Lepic, Kari Conway and step granddaughter Natalie Brotherton as well as his 7 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Jaro will be greatly missed by his family and the many friends from his 87 years in Iowa City. The Lepic family is very grateful to Dr. Sarin, Dr. Ashby, and staff at Mercy Hospital and Hospice of Mercy.