Ray L. Jiruska

Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on October 9, 1918
Departed on November 17, 2007. Resided in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Memorial

Ray Jiruska, 89 of Cedar Rapids and Cocoa Beach, Florida, died Saturday morning, November 17 at St. Luke's Hospital following a long illness. Services will be held Saturday, November 24, at 10:30 a.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church with Rev. Jim Langley officiating. Private family entombment will be in Jiruska family mausoleum in Czech National Cemetery in Cedar Rapids. Friends may call at the Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday.
Ray is survived by his three sons, Rodney R. Jiruska, David E. Jiruska and Daniel F. Jiruska, his former wife, Jeanne Lanning Jiruska of Cedar Rapids and his four grandchildren, Jennifer Jiruska of Pompano Beach, Florida, Shane Jiruska of Orlando, FL, Jourdan Jiruska of Chicago, IL and Nikolas Jiruska of Cedar Rapids. Ray was preceded in death by his parents and a brother John L. Jiruska.
Ray was born October 9, 1918 in Cedar Rapids, the son of Frank and Hilda Hulabar Jiruska. Ray was very enterprising man and work was a big part of his life. At a young age he followed in his father's footsteps and became a projectionist. He served his country during World War II in the Army Air Corps while stationed in Texas. After the war, Ray returned to Cedar Rapids where he started a trucking business and later founded a bookkeeping and tax service business. Ray embarked on a new business venture in 1958 and started the 2nd oldest major franchise of H & R Block. Ray's H & R Block business grew and he soon had offices in Eastern Iowa and the Illinois Quad Cities. He enjoyed this facet of his business career more than anything because of the many wonderful employees that worked for him over the years. Ray sadly sold the business back to H & R Block in 2003. Ray also founded the first Mazda dealership in Cedar Rapids in 1972 and the Diamond Center in the 1985. He also was a real estate developer with many properties in Iowa and Cocoa Beach, Florida. Some of his properties included Czech Square and Hawthorne Suites in Cedar Rapids and condominium buildings in Cocoa Beach. Ray also enjoyed collecting cars and coins. He dearly loved animals especially his rabbit Calvin and the family's dogs which he often took to Wendy's drive thru for a hamburger. Ray was also committed to his Czech heritage. He was very supportive of the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library and was responsible for financially supporting its creation as well as its endowment. One of his proudest moments was opening day when he met the Presidents of the United States, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Ray was also a member of the Scottish Rite and the El Kahir Shrine in Cedar Rapids. While work and philanthropy were a big part of his life, nothing was more than important than his family. He truly cherished his boys and grandchildren and took great care of them. Ray was indeed an enterprising man that lived life to it fullest. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him and loved him. Friends may, if they wish, make memorial donations in memory of Ray to the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library, 30 16th Avenue SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404 or the Shriners Hospitals for Children, Shriners International Headquarters, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607.

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