Levern Joseph Dostal, 77 of Cedar Rapids, died Thursday, March 5, 2009 at his home.  Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 9, 2009 at St. Ludmila's Catholic Church.  Full military rites will be conducted by the Hanford American Legion Post 5.  Burial will follow in St. John's Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Brosh Chapel in Cedar Rapids, temporarily located at 3100 F Avenue NW, where there will be a 5:30 p.m.Vigil.  Visitation will also be an hour prior to services Monday at St. Ludmilas Catholic Church.

Vern was born March 30, 1931, in Cedar Rapids, the oldest son of Joseph and Adeline (Dlask) Dostal.  He was a self proclaimed Tot Lot dropout until his 1949 graduation from Czech Tech (Wilson High).  He later attended the University of Iowa.  Vern worked at Toman's Florist and Linn Candy before joining the US Army during the Korean Conflict serving as a Sergeant in the Quarter Master Corps. in Germany.  He married Helen Rose Jandl in a civil ceremony on November 28, 1952 and a Catholic Church ceremony on November 29, 1952 both in Worms, Germany.  After his honorable discharge, he worked in car sales at Culver Motors and McGrath Pontiac.  In 1964 he became co-owner of Dostal Catering Service with his two brothers, until selling the business in 1990.  Vern also worked at the Cedar Rapids Airport Shuttle Service for several years.  He was a member of the VFW, Elks Club, the Moose Lodge, Knights of Columbus, and Western Fraternal.

Vern is survived by his sons, Mark (Kay) Dostal of Naperville, Illinois, Matthew (Jan) Dostal of Cedar Rapids, Chris (Mary) Dostal of Cedar Rapids, Craig (Sheryl) Dostal of Ely, and Dave (Melissa) Dostal of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, John (Jeanette) Dostal, Jeremy (Lynsey) Dostal, Amy (Brian) Vaughan, Laura Dostal, Todd Dostal, Dan Dostal, Vicki Dostal, and Nolan Dostal; great grandchildren, Derek and Luke Dostal, and Jack Dostal; a sister, JoAnn Smith of Colorado Springs, Colorado; sisters-in-law, Betty Dostal and Carol Dostal both of Cedar Rapids; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Helen Rose; brothers, Duane 'Dewey' Dostal, and Ron Dostal.

The family would like to extend a special Thank You to Brandi, Peggy, and Shari of Iowa Hospice, and all of the members of Cedar Rapids Fire Department Station 5.

Memorials may be directed to the family.