BLAIRSTOWN:  Gertrude "Gertie" (Svoboda) Boddicker, age 96, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 22, 2022, at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, January 26, 2022 at St. John's Catholic church in Blairstown, with Rev. Craig Steimel as Celebrant. Interment will be held in the spring at St. Patrick and St. Paul Cemetery, Watkins.  The family will greet friends from 10:00 AM until service time, Wednesday at the church.

Gertie was born on November 14, 1925 in Cresco, the daughter of James and Mary (Moudry) Svoboda.  She graduated from Rudolphinum Catholic High School, Protivin, IA, in 1943.  On June 23, 1947, she was united in marriage to David John Boddicker in Protovin.  Gertie worked at the Ox Yoke Inn in Amana for 41 years.

She was an active member of St. John's Catholic Church in Blairstown, and the Blairstown American Legion Auxiliary.  In her leisure time, Gertie enjoyed playing 500 and Bridge in several card clubs.  She also loved to dance and made the best potato salad and chocolate chip cookies.  And she was thrilled to see Pope John Paul II in Rome.

She is survived by her 3 daughters, Janell Beckman of Lake Wales, FL, Carol Buchli of Columbia, MO, Diane Boddicker of Aurora, CO; 3 grandchildren, Sara (Matthew) Alexander of Mequon, WI, Aaron Buchli of St. Louis, MO, Summer (Chad) Gorsh of Victor; 4 great-grandchildren, Henry Alexander, Kyler Gorsh, Keegan Gorsh, Kash Gorsh; and 2 sisters Mary Bader of Cresco, and Agnes (Ron) Dostal of Protivin.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband David; son Douglas Boddicker; son-in-law James Beckman; 3 brothers Raymond, James and Bernard Svoboda; and 3 sisters Alice Svoboda, Helen Havel, and Irene Cervenka.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Mary Anne Nelson and all the staff and nurses on the 3 ^rd and 9 ^th floors at Mercy Medical Center for their loving care.

Online condolences: www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com