Bessie Hrstka

CLUTIER-Bessie Hrstka, 101, of Clutier, passed away Sunday, March 23, 2025 at Sunrise Hill Care Center in Traer. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, March 29, 2025 at 10:30 AM, at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama. Interment will follow at National Cemetery in rural Vining. Visitation will be held Saturday, March 29, 2025 from 9:30 AM until the time of service at the funeral home.

Bessie was born on June 14, 1923, on a farm near Elberon, Iowa, the daughter of Anton and Bessie (Mirosovsky) Strachota.

She graduated from Elberon High School in 1941. Bessie got her teaching certificate at Iowa State Teachers College (UNI). She taught country school for six years in Tama County.

On September 6, 1945, she was united in marriage to Emil Hrstka at the Elberon United Methodist parsonage. Bessie then farmed with Emil. She was a member of CSA Lodge where she was a drill team member in high school. She was also a member of the Farm Bureau. Emil and Bessie were active in their neighborhood card club. Bessie loved flowers, gardening, sewing, crafts, and baking. She and Emil were frequently taking their goods to Farmers Markets in Tama and Belle Plaine. Bessie was famous for her angel food cakes, kolaches, and rohliky.

Survivors include two nieces, Diane (Bob) Deibler of Garner, and Cindy (Dave) Broadie of Davenport; one nephew, Allen (Sylvia) Konicek of Alpena, MI; several great nieces and nephews; and local friends and neighbors she treated as family.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Emil in 2007; one daughter, Linda Hrstka in 2004; and one sister, Mildred Konicek.

Memorials may be directed to a charity of your choice.