Alberta Joyce (Clifton) Svoboda

 Alberta Joyce Svoboda, 88, of Mechanicsville, passed away at her home Friday, Oct. 4, 2019, surrounded by loving family members.  Visitation takes place from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8, followed by a funeral service at 10:30 a.m., both at the United Methodist Church in Mechanicsville. A luncheon will follow.

  Alberta was born June 19, 1931, on the family farm in Mechanicsville. She graduated from Mechanicsville High School and took business college classes in Cedar Rapids and worked as a legal secretary there and in Mechanicsville before marrying her husband, Vern (Bud) Svoboda, on August 25, 1950. She worked alongside Bud on the Heritage family farm for more than four decades and worked in the central business office at Cornell College from 1965-1972. In addition, she and Bud worked as a team during 22 years selling Pioneer Seed Corn.

The couple traveled extensively in the United States and Europe with friends and family who shared their interest in seeing new places. Among their adventures were trips taken with their son Wayne and his wife Marla to Maine, Montana, the Outer Banks of North Carolina, London, Scotland, Paris and Brooklyn, where Alberta led trips on the subway to Times Square. She and Bud kept up with the travels of her daughter Sally and husband Joe as they moved around while Joe was in the Air Force. They made countless trips to spend time in the Des Moines area home of their daughter Joy and husband Al. And they visited grandchildren in their homes around the country.

As grandchildren came, camping trips with the little ones became a special activity. Anyone who knew Alberta knew that her “grands” and “great-grands” were her pride and joy. She taught the lot to make kolaches, homemade noodles and favorite Christmas treats. Many wonderful holiday meals were celebrated around her dining room table.

Alberta is survived by her three children: Wayne Svoboda (Marla Stewart) of Brooklyn NY; Joy (Al) Root of Pleasant Hill; and Sally (Joe) Hunt of Mechanicsville. Alberta has five grandchildren, two of whom reside in Iowa and the three others in Wisconsin, Colorado and California. Ten great grandchildren stole her heart.

She is survived by two sisters: Patricia (James) McGlasson of Tucson and  Verla (LeRoy) Johnson of Phoenix. Her many nieces and nephews were important to her.

Alberta was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Bud, who died in 2014, and her parents. Memorial conributions may be directed to First United Methodist Church or Hospice of Iowa

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