Zola Winter Cerka

Zola Winter Cerka

Crawfordsville

Zola Winter Cerka, age 86, of Crawfordsville, Iowa, formerly of Iowa City, Iowa, passed away Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at the United Presbyterian Home in Washington.

Memorial services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 4, 2025, at the United Church of Crawfordsville with Pastor Jason Collier officiating. The family will be present to receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Private family interment will be held at a later date. Memorials have been established for the New Lifehouse in Wayland, Iowa, or the WACO Community Food Pantry. The Jones & Eden Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent for Zola’s family at www.jonesfh.com.

Zola was born April 12, 1939, in Iowa City, Iowa, the daughter of Fred and Wilma (Applebee) Tharp. She graduated from City High in Iowa City. Zola was united in marriage to Wayne J. Winter on June 22, 1957, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Iowa City. Wayne passed away in 2003. Zola was later married to David M. Cerka on December 16, 2017.

Zola lived most of her life in the Iowa City area prior to moving to Crawfordsville in 2017. She was a homemaker and was an in-home daycare provider to hundreds of children in Coralville, Iowa.

She enjoyed making crafts and selling them, and was a member of the Euchre clubs and a card carrying member of the “Knee Knocker” club in Iowa City.

Zola is survived by her husband, David M. Cerka of Crawfordsville, Iowa; daughter, Regina Feltz of Kalona, Iowa; son, John Winter of North Liberty, Iowa; son-in-law, Joe Fitzjarrell of St. Peters, Missouri; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Following the marriage to David, Zola’s family grew to include children, Colleen (Richard) Cregg of Lincoln, Nebraska; Jolleen Cerka of Ainsworth, Iowa; and David M. (Veronica) Cerka II of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; as well as their children and grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Wayne in 2003; daughter, Shari Fitzjarrell in 2010, daughter, Betty Lou Beem in 2021; son-in-law, Bill Beem in 2025; and son-in-law, Benny Feltz in 2024.