Ludwig "Lud" J. Svoboda, 73 died Thursday, August 25 at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House. Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 30, at Blessed John XXIII, with burial to follow in St. Patrick's Cemetery near Fairfax, where full military rites will be conducted by the Fairfax American Legion. Visitation will be from 2 to 7 p.m. Monday at Blessed John XXIII, located at 8100 Roncalli Dr. SW, where there will be a 7 p.m. Knights of Columbus rosary followed by a parish vigil. Brosh Chapel in Cedar Rapids is in charge of arrangements. Lud was born December 17, 1937 in Clutier, the son of Paul and Albia (Stoklas) Svoboda. Lud served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He married Loreen A. Schminke on August 17, 1970 at "The Little Brown Church in The Vale" in Nashua. Lud is survived by his wife, Loreen Svoboda; his children Gregory (Lylelene) Svoboda of Shellsburg, Sandy (Steve) Smith of Wadsworth, Illinois, Jeff (Monica) Svoboda of Vinton; step-children Randy (Deanna) Redington of Cedar Rapids and Karolee (Leon) Mell of Norway; nine grandchildren Greg II (Jennifer) Svoboda, Heather (Phil) Kolek, Shane (Heather) Mell, Kaitlynn Mell, Bronson Werning, Amanda Svoboda, Joshua, Caleb, and Ariana Svoboda; three great-grandchildren Braden Mell, Emersyn Svoboda, and Evan Kolek; brothers Leo (Janice) of Boise, Idaho, David of Marshalltown, Peter "Giles" of Marshalltown, Clair (Suzanne) of Clutier and Paul "Poncho" (Barbara) of Clutier; and a sister Cecilia Podhajsky of Traer. He was preceded in death by his parents Paul and Albia Svoboda, his in-laws Victor and Hazel Schminke; and a brother-in-law Bob Podhajsky In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to either Boys Scouts of America or the Knights of Columbus 4th Degree, Bowen General Assembly. Lud attended Rural Country School, Carrol #7. He also attended Loras Academy in Dubuque, IA for his High School Education. The school was a Military Training School where he received his Pfc-E3 Rank in the US Army. He served his time as a Basic Training Officer during the Korean War. Lud farmed at Clutier, IA after graduation on one of his Dad's farms. Then the family moved to Cedar Rapids, IA. There he hauled milk wholesale to stores and schools for a number of years, also working on and off at Collins Radio, Wilson Meat Packing and Wolf Manufacturing. His love of agriculture led him back to the farm and related fields. He studied nights and became a Certified Crop Consultant. He specialized in the production of crops. Plant nutrition became his way of life. He worked with Fertilizers and Ag Chemicals, working both the wholesale and retail end of the industry. Traveling throughout Iowa, parts of Missouri, Illinois, and Wisconsin. He put on meetings for Fertilizer and Chemical Dealers and walked many fields examining crops and solving problems. Lud was a innovator and a strong supporter of liquid fertilizers and chemicals. They were so much easier to work with and to adapt to different application techniques. At the time cost of production was going through the roof and the No-Till Injection Era was on its way. Throughout all these years Lud was always a supporter of the youth. He was involved in the 4-H and FFA programs as an advisor and donating trophies to county fairs. The 1980's brought about a recession in the Agricultural Industry and Consultants were in less demand. Farmers were going to the computers on their own and so Lud went to work for his hometown as a Water and Sanitation Engineer retiring from there in 2002. Lud was a people person and enjoyed working with his wife Loreen. He and Loreen did everything together. They were both involved with the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Explorer Scouts and both ended up working on the District Level as Trainers and Instructors. Lud and Loreen were the first couple to receive the "District Award of Merit" in the North Star District. Both taught Sunday school. They were both Horse People. Lud was an active Rodeo Participant, Judge and Supporter. He was a member of the Great Lakes Rodeo Circuit and a member of the Iowa Rodeo Association. They were also members of the Cedar Rapids Horsemans Club, where they served as Entertainment Chairmen and as President for two years. After this, he then on the Board of Directors. Lud prizes his heritage. He and Loreen were both members of the Czech Heritage Foundation of Cedar Rapids. He served as President and Vice President and both of them served on the Executive Board. Lud still speaks Czech and can read some. He was a member of the Czech Singers and sings at several functions. He was also an advocate of the Czech School, and attended the adult classes. Lud has been a lifelong member of the Tama, IA Fraternal Order of Eagles, for 50 plus years. Lud was a learned man and he believed that if you join as a member you should become active and received all you can from that organization. If this man ever had any spare-time he enjoyed working with leather. He was a Charter member of the "Red Cedar Leather Crafters" He served as President for two years and enjoyed going to the Federation Shows. He can't wait for the Benton County Fair so he could go and be with his sons and grandsons who are all members of the Benton County Pork Producers. He enjoys helping out, making sandwiches at the Pork Producers Food Bldg. He enjoys being with the kids and grand kids. Lud was a member of the Fairfax Senior Club and enjoyed the monthly pot lucks. A member of the (SSSA) Soil Science Society, the (SSA) American Agronomy Society, and the (NSA) National Soil Association. A member of the Farm Bureau for 50 plus years, and a member of the Fairfax Pekomy American Legion #572. Lud was a member of St Patricks Parish in Fairfax. He was Instrumental in organizing a Knights of Columbus Council in the Parish with his good friend Father Tom Schwinn. He was a Eucharistic minister, a lector, led the rosary many times before mass, started the men's choir and sang whenever he could. After retirement he mowed the grass at the church, the rectory and the school. In 1997 he became a charter member of Knights of Columbus Council #11942, now known as the Thomas Schwinn Council. He served the Council as Grand Knight, Deputy Grand Knight, Trustee and Membership Chairman. He became a Fourth Degree Knight in May of 1997 at Davenport, IA and a member of the Bowen General Assembly 0269 of Cedar Rapids, IA. He served the Assembly as Faithful Navigator (three years), Faithful Captain (three years), and Faithful Pilot and as Trustee. In 2002, he was appointed to a four year term as a District Deputy to serve five Councils throughout the state. They were Council #11942 at Fairfax, Council #909 and Council #5544 at Cedar Rapids, Council #12119 Solon, IA. He also started and served at a new Council #13426 at Mechanicsville, IA. Lud always enjoyed talking with his elders and hearing stories about the past, especially Czech Stories. If you wish to leave a memorial, please leave it in the name of the "Boy Scouts of America" or the "Knights of Columbus" 4th degree, Bowen General Assembly. Lud has requested that money not be spent on flowers. He enjoyed them while alive but he cannot smell them now. Written by Lud Svoboda