Lester "Les" Valenta, 93, of rural Palo, passed away at the V.A. Medical Center in Iowa City Sunday, December 27, 2015 following a brief illness.

Visitation will be 1:00-3:30 P.M. Sunday, January 3, 2016 at Salem United Methodist Church, 3715 33rd Avenue S.W., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with a memorial service to follow at 4:00 P.M. Burial will be at a later date. Papich-Kuba Funeral Service, Cedar Rapids, is assisting the family.

Les was born April 5, 1922 in Lozice, Czechoslovakia to Joseph and Emilie (Tezner) Valenta. Les, his father and brother Joe came to America in 1928. Les was raised in the Tama area. He went into the Army Air Corps in 1941 as a radio operator and mechanic in New Guinea, the Island of Biak, the Philippines and Okinawa. After the war, Les went to radio and TV school and was hired at Collins Radio in Cedar Rapids and then worked as a TV repairman for Smulekoff's. In 1956 he opened his own business, Valenta's TV and Radio.

On May 18, 1947, Les married Helen M. Chalupsky. They raised their family, ran the "shop" and had many wonderful years in Cedar Rapids. In 1977 Les and Helen retired and moved to Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas. His beloved and devoted wife of 65 years, Helen, passed away in 2012. In 2014 Les moved back to the Cedar Rapids area to live and be with his family.

Les loved playing golf, throwing horseshoes, family vacations fishing in Minnesota and Canada, gardening, cutting fire wood and family gatherings. Les was an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs, Bulls and Bears and the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Les is survived by 3 sons and their wives, Dennis and Kathy of rural Palo, Steve and Laura of Chicago, Illinois and Gary and Deb of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, Stephanie, Joe, Cody, Sarah and her husband Ryan Reisdorph, and a step granddaughter, Robin. He is also survived by his brother, Joe in Michigan and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen, his parents and stepmother, Mary, sister-in-law, Helen Valenta, 4 brothers-in-law, Allen, Merle, Clayton and Clair Chalupsky, a step sister, Martha and 2 step brothers, Bill and Leonard.

Lester's family wishes to thank the wonderful doctors and nurses of 7 East at the V.A. Medical Center in Iowa City for their excellent care of Les during his brief illness.

Memorials may be directed to Gary Valenta, 238 22nd Street N.W. Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52405.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.papich-kubafs.com under "obituaries".