Louis James Tresnak, 71, of Iowa City, formerly of Cedar Rapids, passed away Tuesday, January 20, 2015 in Iowa City after a long illness.

Funeral Mass: 1:00 P.M. Saturday at Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, by Father Christopher Podhajsky. Burial: Saint John's Cemetery. Friends may call after noon Saturday at the church. Papich-Kuba Funeral Service is serving the family.

Louis "Jim" was born June 4, 1943 in Belle Plaine. He was the special son of Joseph and Helen Tresnak and the favorite grandson of his grandfather, Alois Tresnak. Louis attended Saint Ludmila grade school and Regis High School and was a former employee of the Sheltered Workshop in Cedar Rapids.

While growing up in Cedar Rapids' "Czech town", Louis enjoyed various sports with his brothers, sister, cousins and friends. He especially enjoyed ice skating and he was a lifelong Hawkeye fan. In recent years, Louis enjoyed family events, going for rides and receiving
visits from the Iowa cheerleaders.

Louis accepted life's challenges courageously. He was quick to forgive and never too proud to say "I'm sorry", which he did many times. Like other diabetics, Louis endured thousands of needle sticks and insulin shots with hardly a complaint.

Louis was a member of Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids.

Louis is survived by his brothers, Joe of Iowa City, George of Glidden, Wisconsin, and Larry and Tom of Cedar Rapids; his sister, Barbara Ruzicka of Solon. Also surviving are his nieces, Julie Uhlenkamp, Jodie Doyle and Jolene Kennedy, all of Solon, Dr. Janet Tresnak of Iowa City, Dr. Jennifer Tresnak of Minneapolis and Suzy Pizano of Woodbury, Minnesota; and his nephews, Jeff Ruzicka of Solon and Chris Tresnak of Melbourne, Australia.

In addition to his parents, Louis was preceded in death by his grandparents, Alois and Frances Tresnak and Thomas and Barbara Macha; uncle, Ernest Macha; brother-in-law, Ron Ruzicka; sister-in-law, Joanne Tresnak and niece, Tina Ruzicka.

Louis' family would like to express its deepest appreciation to the staff of Iowa City Rehabilitation and Health Care, to Dr. Fred Ovrum of Iowa City and to Iowa City Hospice, Inc. for their total commitment to providing loving care for Louis.