Robert M. Skala, 83 of Cedar Rapids, died Thursday, January 8, 2009 at Heritage Nursing and Rehab Center.  Services will be 10:00 a.m. Monday at Brosh Chapel in Cedar Rapids, temporarily located at 3100 F Avenue NW, with burial to follow in Anderson Cemetery in Swisher.  Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until service time.

Robert was born January 9, 1925 in Linn County, the son of George and Elizabeth Detert Skala.  Robert started school in Western and then attended four years at Woodward.  His early adult life he spent on the farm.  He lived in Swisher for over eight years and then moved to Cedar Rapids in 1974.  He attended Handicap Systems, now Options for fourteen years.  Robert enjoyed traveling, listening to Czech music, dancing, and playing bingo.  He was a member of the Western Fraternal, Czech Heritage, Fairfax Senior Citizens, Federation Czech Group, WFLA Lodge 13 as well as the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library.

Robert is survived by his mother Elizabeth Detert Skala Becicka of Cedar Rapids; a sister in law Linda Skala of Cedar Rapids, a niece Cheryl and Bryan Hadley of Marion, a nephew Scott and Monique Skala of Ft. Bragg, North Carolina as well as his great nieces Sarah and Lauren Hadley.

He was preceded in death by his father George Skala; a brother Marvin Skala on July 5, 2008; and a stepfather George Becicka.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to Options of Linn County.