Reuben Harvey Svoboda

Reuben Harvey Svoboda, 82, of Montgomery, died Tuesday, January 5, 2016 at his home. Visitation will be held on Friday, January 8, 2016 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery. Funeral services will be on Saturday, January 9, 2016 at 11 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Montgomery with visitation one hour prior at the church. Burial will be at a later date.

Reuben was born on June 22, 1933 in Derrynane Township to Joe and Elizabeth (Schultz) Svoboda in the same Svoboda farm house as his father. He attended Lanesburg and Giesen country schools and graduated in 1951 from Montgomery High School. He then began farming with his parents. He was united in marriage to Carol Jean Erkel on September 16, 1954 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Le Center. They dairy farmed by Lexington and then moved to the George Wondra farm a mile east.

He enjoyed his mules, and gave many rides. For 19 years he drove for the Friendship Wagon Train to raise money for their camp, he also drove for the Le Sueur County Fair, Pioneer Power, weddings, parties and just for fun. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was diagnosed 7-1/2 years ago with Myeloma Cancer and was given 1 to 3 months to live. He tried a new drug which gave him these extra years and he wished to thank all who helped in anyway.

Reuben is survived by his wife, Carol Svoboda of Montgomery; children, Wayne R. Svoboda of New Prague, and Ruth A. (Svoboda) (special friend, Ron Pomije) Hoefs of Le Center; grandchildren, Jena L. (Hoefs) (John) Riley, and John Thomas Hoefs; great-grandchildren, Matthew, Jane, and Jean Riley; siblings, Bernice (Wayne) Bohnsack of Savage, and Lloyd C. (Peggy) Svoboda of New Prague; step-siblings, Patsy Lande of Le Center, and LeRoy (Doris) Tiede of Le Center; brother and sister-in-law, Floyd (Ellen) Erkel of Le Center; many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his father Joe, mother, Elizabeth (Svoboda) Tiede; mother and father-in-law, Ervin "Ole" and Pearl Erkel.

Arrangements are with Schoenbauer Funeral Home in Montgomery. 507-364-7929. www.schoenbauerfuneralhome.com.