Jean Marie Vondracek, 67, of Cedar Rapids, died Thursday, August 14, 2008, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy after an extended illness.  Funeral Mass will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at St. Ludmila's Catholic Church with Fr. Chris Podhajsky presiding.  Burial will follow in St. John's Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at St. Ludmila's Catholic Church, where there will be a 7 p.m. rosary.  Visitation will also be an hour prior to services Tuesday at the church.

Jean was born January 26, 1941, in Cedar Rapids, the daughter of Eugene and Clara Dunbar Bennett.  She married Joseph R. Vondracek Jr. on June 10, 1961, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids.  Jean started her career at Collins Radio and later joined her husband in operating Vondracek's Meat Market and JV Truck Shine.  In 1993 they opened the first Blimpie's franchise in Iowa.  In her retirement Jean worked as a special-needs bus attendant for Cedar Rapids Community School District.

Jean was a member of the Czech Heritage Association, Sokol of Cedar Rapids, First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association, Prokop Velky Lodge #137, National Czech Museum and Library, African American Museum, the Five Seasons Jim Beam Bottle Club, and Jim Beams' International Bottle Club.

Jean is survived by her son, Joseph R. (Karen) Vondracek III of Hiawatha; daughters, Judy Vondracek of Cedar Rapids, Joanne (Brian) Ulch of Solon, and Janice Vondracek of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren Lauren and Mia Vondracek and Evan, Owen, and Ethan Ulch; and her brother Robert Bennett of Kentucky.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Joseph R. Vondracek Jr. on September 7, 2004, and a brother Harold Bennett.

Jean cherished her family and friends and loved spending time with her grandchildren.  She and her husband Joe were avid Hawkeye, Cubs and Packers fans and tailgaters.  They attended games with their close friends for many years as well as sponsoring JV Truck Shine 12" and 16" men softball teams.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Doug, Krista, Marylou, Sandra, and Stephanie of Home Health Watch, the Dennis and Donna Oldorf staff, especially Pat and Jodie for making Jean's final days comfortable.  The family would also like to thank the staff and friends from St. Luke's Living Center West.