Emma Jean Koudelka, 83
Fri, 01/21/2022 - 1:03pm
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Dec. 10, 1938 —
Jan. 20, 2022
CRESCO - Emma Jean Koudelka, age 83, of Cresco, Iowa, passed away at Evans Memorial Home in Cresco, on Jan. 20, 2022.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, Jan. 24, 2022, at 11 a.m., at the Notre Dame Catholic Church in Cresco. A public visitation will be held on Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, from 2-4 p.m. at the Hindt-Hudek Funeral Home and Monday, Jan. 24, 2022 at 10 a.m. before funeral services. Burial will take place following Mass at Calvary Cemetery in Cresco, with lunch following the burial.
Emma Jean was born on Dec. 10, 1938, to Charles and Ida (Wenthold) Burgess in Cresco. She grew up with her 10 siblings and graduated from Cresco High School in 1956. After graduation, she went on to receive her nurse’s aid certification.
Shortly after, Emma Jean was set up on a blind date with the love of her life, Martin Koudelka. They were united in marriage on April 23, 1958, at St. Joe’s in Cresco. To this union were born three sons, Darryl, Todd and Scott.
The couple raised their sons on the family farm east of Cresco. Emma Jean enjoyed helping Martin with daily tasks around the farm, as well as cooking, baking and embroidering baby blankets. She kept a tidy garden during the summer and spent countless hours canning her produce. She enjoyed mowing the lawn and made sure the grass never got too long. A special part of her day was when the couple would take a break from their work and play a game of cards.
When Emma Jean was not keeping busy at home, she enjoyed traveling to Branson, Mo., and she was an avid collector of salt and pepper shakers. She loved country music and would frequently visit The Inwood Ballroom in Spillville and Matter’s Ballroom in Decorah, where she and Martin would dance.
Emma Jean became a grandmother to 12 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren and loved spending time with them.
She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Martin; sons, Darryl (Annette) Koudelka of Nevada, Iowa, Todd Koudelka of Sun Prairie, Wis. and Scott (Gretchen) Koudelka of Hastings, Minn.; grandchildren, Wendy (Isaac) Stanley, Megan (Paul) Wochinski, Danny (fiancé Rebecca) Koudelka, Mike (Jill) Connors, Brian Koudelka, Michaela Koudelka, Caleb Koudelka, Alexis (fiancé Stephen) Koudelka, Noah Koudelka, Ethan Koudelka, Katelin (special friend Brandon) Koudelka and Jennifer (Jake) Brown; nine great-grandchildren, plus one on the way; brothers, Kenny Burgess and Chuck Burgess, both of Cresco; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Corrine, Dorothy, Helen, Rosemary, Alice May, Charlotte, Charlene and Elta Jean.
