Agnes Cerka

Agnes Maxine Cerka, of Long Beach, California, passed away peacefully on December 29, 2017 at her home. Agnes celebrated her 100th birthday on May 10, 2017. Memorial Services will be held on January 18, 2018 in Long Beach, California. Funeral Services will be held on January 26, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. in the Zearing Christian Church; burial will follow at the Lincoln Township Cemetery in Zearing, Iowa. Agnes, or "Auntie" as she was known by both family and friends, was born on a farm in Story County to Otis Bailey and Ella I. (Rhodes) Bailey on May 10, 1917. After her father died in the flu pandemic, she was raised and lived in Zearing until she moved to Chicago with her mother, sister and step-father, Herman Kurth in 1927. Agnes was named the "Waitress of the Year" at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair. She graduated from Senn High School in Chicago in 1935. The family returned to Zearing in 1936. She married Kenneth L. Cerka, a life-long resident of Zearing at the Evangelical Church in 1938. For a period of time Agnes was the owner and proprietor of Kenny's Café in Zearing. Agnes lived most of her adult life in Zearing. After her husband's death she split her time between I...[more]

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a and California until she relocated permanently to Long Beach around 1999 to be near her sister and life-long best friend, Gladys "Gigi" Steelman and family. Agnes was active in Eastern Star and other Zearing community activities. She loved reading, playing cards and enjoyed politics. After moving to California, she continued to manage her business interests and was known for her keen business sense, intelligence, humor and sharp wit. She traveled extensively with her family and enjoyed gatherings with her extended family and many friends. Agnes was preceded in death by her father Otis Bailey, her step-father Herman Kurth, her mother Ella I. Kurth and her loving husband K. L. Cerka. She will be remembered with love by only sister, Gladys "Gigi" Steelman of Long Beach, Ca., her niece, Judith M. Ryan of Irvine, Ca., her nephew Ken E. Steelman of Ladera Ranch, Ca, their spouses Patrick Ryan and Patty Steelman and her nine great nieces and nephews, Robert, Megan, Matt, Wesley, Courtney, Sarah, Judy, Katie, Michael and their families. Fredregill Funeral & Cremation Care in Zearing has been entrusted with the care of Agnes and her family.