Representative Ernest Kosek View All Years

ERNEST KOSEK

Ernest Kosek was born in Cedar Rapids on March 13, 1907, in the Kosek Bakery on 16th Avenue, now know as Sykora’s Bakery. He passed away on August 31, 1999, at the age of ninety-two years. In 1934, he married Vlasta Victoria Vondracek in the Coe College Chapel. He is survived by his son, Ernest G. Kosek, and wife, Susan, of Cedar Rapids; a daughter, Karen V. Nelson of Minneapolis; a sister, Rose Prastka; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Ernest graduated from old Washington High School located in downtown Cedar Rapids and then went on to study at Coe College. He transferred to the University of Iowa, where in 1931 he graduated with an electrical engineering degree and a minor in money and banking. He received a commission in the Army Engineers and was accepted for training as an Army Air Corps cadet. In 1932, Ernest left the Army Air Corps and worked as an investment banker starting his own investment banking business, which he successfully ran for forty years. He served on the Board of Governors of the National Association of Securities Dealers. Ernest served in the Navy during World War II as a Lt. Senior Grade. He was stationed in New York City, where he helped set up some of the first discharge centers.

Ernest Kosek was a Linn County Republican, and in 1946 he was elected to the House of Representatives and served twelve years during the 52nd through the 57th General Assemblies until 1958. In 1966, he was elected to the Senate and served for four years during the 62nd and 63rd General Assemblies until 1970. While in the Legislature, he championed many mental health bills helping those affected by mental illness. He also served on the executive committee of the National Association of Mental Health.

Senator Kosek was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, the El Kahir Shrine, the Odd Fellows, the Elks, the American Legion, and he was a 32nd degree Mason. He was a member of the Cedar Rapids Country Club, the Sokol, the Iowa Republican Party, the Czech Heritage Society, the Czech Village Association, and Western Fraternal. Senator Kosek and United States Senator Hruska started the first English-speaking lodges in the Western Fraternal.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE SEVENTY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF IOWA: That in the passing of the Honorable Ernest Kosek, the State has lost an honored citizen and a faithful and useful public servant, and the Senate by this resolution expresses its appreciation of his service to the State and tenders its sympathy and kindest regards to the members of his family.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the Senate and that the Secretary of the Senate be instructed to forward an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.

MARY A. LUNDBY, Chair

WALLY E. HORN

ANDY McKEAN

Committee