Edward John Dvorak

MADISON Edward J. Dvorak, age 98, died Wednesday, Oct.13, 2010, at the HospiceCare Center. He was born in Muscoda, on Aug. 1, 1912, the son of Frank and Martha (Kautz) Dvorak. He was united in marriage with Florence L. Yarwood on April 27, 1935.Ed began his working career at age 14, helping support his widowed mother by working on a Stoughton area farm. In 1936, he began working for International Harvester Company, manufacturer of farm equipment and trucks. For most of his career he was a zone manager, traveling a regional territory and providing sales and customer service to I.H. dealers. He prided himself in doing everything possible for his dealers, and he prided himself in being a representative of his company. Upon his retirement in 1975, he designed a special ring, using stones and emblems from the service awards he received throughout his 38+ years working for I.H. It was a handsome ring and he loved to show it off to everyone he met.Ed loved gardening, especially raising vegetables. His interest started with a Victory Garden during World War II and continued well into retirement. Ed was a tinkerer, and there was nothing that he could not fix. He taught himself radio repair, and when the big CB radio boom came along in the 70s through 90s, he started fixing radios for friends he made in that hobby. He was affectionately known as Mr. Ed, his CB handle. Crossword puzzles were another passion of his, and he did them daily until late in his life.Ed was known for his friendly outgoing personality, good mind and quick wit. He was well liked by everyone. Because he traveled so much, he especially paid attention to making limited family time, quality time. He was a loving, caring and devoted husband to Florence, his wife of 71 years, until her death in 2006. He was a wonderful father and grandfather, always taking the time for and giving support to family members. He was a good neighbor and a good friend.Ed is survived by his two sons, James (Jody) Dvorak of Quinlan, Texas and William (Nina) Dvorak of Madison; five grandchildren, Leigh (Mike) Grover of Carrollton, Texas, Steve (Tamara) Dvorak of Austin, Texas, Vikki (Randy) Hamrick of Rockwall, Texas, Charlie (Sherrn Pak) Dvorak of Stoughton, and Betsy (Nick) Oksanen of Antioch, Ill.; nine great- grandchildren; many nephews and nieces; plus dear friends and acquaintances.He was preceded in death by his loving wife Florence; his parents; his brothers, Arthur, Alfred, Walter, Bennie, Frank; and sister, Margaret.Funeral services will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 18, 2010. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010, and from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Monday. Burial will be at Highland Memory Gardens. The family wishes to thank the staff of HospiceCare for their kindness to, and care of Ed in his last weeks, and asks thatin lieu of flowers, memorials be made to HospiceCare, Inc. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials be made to HospiceCare, Inc. Cemetery: Burial will be at Highland Memory Gardens. Visitation: Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010,and from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Monday. Service: Funeral services will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 18, 2010.