Josef Dvm Obituary

Dr. Josef "Joe" Kubicek, DVM, 79 1/2 , of Dubuque, Iowa, died on Friday, May 5, 2023 in Postville, Iowa. Visitation will be held from 9:00 to 10:15 a. m. on Friday, May 12, 2023 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Dubuque. The mass of Christian burial for Joe will be held at 10:30 am on Friday, May 12, 2023 at St. Anthony Catholic Church with Father Steven Rosonke as the celebrant. Joe was born October 30, 1943 in Sopotnice 60, Czechoslovakia, the son of Josef and Helena (Barvinkova) Kubicek. On September 28, 1968, he married Ludmila Matejkova in Usti nad Orlici, Czechoslovakia, which is now known as Czech Republic. Joe was a practicing veterinarian in Czechoslovakia and escaped with his wife and four children from communism in 1980. Their family received political asylum to come to the United States in 1981 and settled in El Dorado, Kansas, where another child was born. Joe renewed his master's degree at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas and was employed as a Meat Inspector for the US Department of Agriculture in Dubuque, Iowa and then in Postville, Iowa. Joe enjoyed the outdoors, nature hikes and traveling with his family. He loved reading about culture, war history, science and autobiographies and his amazing memory lent to making him a stimulating storyteller. Survivors include his wife, Ludmila Kubicek of Dubuque; five children, Alena (Michael) Britten of Crystal Lake, Il; Libor (Lesley) Kubicek of Manassas, VA; Ales Kubicek of Madison, WI; Jolana Kubicek of Niedermohr, Germany; and Robert (Eva Kirstenova) Kubicek of Colorado Springs, CO; grandchildren Kiley (Ruadhan), Dorian, Viktor, Julian, Rebeka and a great-grandchild due in July; his sister Helena (Josef) Plihal of Sopotnice, Czech Republic; and several nieces and nephews in Czech Republic. As the oldest sibling, he was preceded in death by his parents. A memorial has been established.