Joseph Cvek

Memorial Mass for Joseph John Cvek, 82, of Cloquet, formerly of Virginia, will be 10:30am Friday, February 12, 2016 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Gilbert with Fr. Charles Flynn as celebrant. Friends may gather one hour prior to the mass at church. Inurnment will take place at a later date in Calvary Cemetery in Virginia, Minnesota. Arrangements by Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Gilbert. Joseph died Monday, January 25, 2016 at Lighthouse Assisted Living Facility in Cloquet, Minnesota. Joseph was born June 12, 1933 in Eveleth, Minnesota to Joseph and Mary (Rebrovich) Cvek. He attended Eveleth High School, Dunwoody Industrial Institute and also served in the US Army Corps from May 14, 1953 where he attained the rank of PFC (E-3) and was stationed in Paris France. He was honorably discharged on May 2, 1955 but remained in the Army Corps Reserve until his honorable discharge on February 26, 1960. Though Joe made his wage and earned his living as a liquor salesman, an insurance salesman, running a paint store, and finally as a member of the tire and vehicle maintenance and sign crew for St. Louis County, his true passion was music. He played the accordion from an early age, and was playing dance jobs in local dance halls and taverns even before legal drinking age. He carried this passion through his life, and it provided many opportunities for him to travel and touch many lives. In the early ‘70’s he became involved with Fr. Frank Perkovich at Resurrection church in Eveleth, MN doing Catholic masses set to Polka and Waltz Music, commonly known as a “Polka Mass”. He played his accordion in Polka Masses from Eveleth, MN to Alaska, on Gulf of Mexico Cruises, Hawaii, in Yugoslavia, and even played for the pope at the Vatican in 1983. The loss of his music in the world is indeed a tragedy. He continued to play music in local establishments until 2012, when the Primary Progressive aphasia as well as Fronto-temporal Dementia made it impossible for him to continue to play publicly. He is survived by Sister Gladys (Bill) Cavers in Arizona, his brother Charles of Duluth, Daughter Sharon (Kevin) Keene of Concord, California, Sons: John (Sue) of Brooklyn Park, MN, Gerald of Virginia, MN, and Steve of Red Wing, MN, six grandchildren: Heidi, Nathan, Angie, and Ben Keene of Concord, California, and Jackie and Jenny Cvek of Brooklyn Park, MN, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is preceded in death by his Father Joe in 1994 and his mother Mary 2003