Sylvester J Svoboda

Sylvester Joe Svoboda passed away on August 4, 2025 at the age of 100. He seldom used his given name instead preferring “S.J.” or “Dutch”. His final resting place will be Sunland Memorial Park Cemetery in Sun City, Arizona.

“Dutch” was born on June 19, 1925 on a farm near Amana, Iowa. His family moved to Walford, Iowa during the Great Depression where his father operated a tavern after Prohibition ended. Dutch graduated from Walford High School in 1943 and was drafted into the U.S. Navy. After basic training, he continued his education in business management.

Dutch served as a yeoman aboard the destroyer USS Uhlmann in the Pacific during World War II. In 1944, he experienced “Halsey’s Typhoon” one of the worst weather-related disasters in U.S. naval history. When the War ended, he was transferred to shore facilities in the Philippines where he helped to close out the Navy’s Motion Picture Exchange until his discharge in 1946.

Dutch married his childhood friend Dolores in 1947. They moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa where Dutch began his drycleaning career as a partner at Esquire Cleaners. He subsequently owned and operated his own prominent business “Duchess Dry Cleaners” until he retired.

Dutch and Dolores moved to Sun City, Arizona in 1974 where they enjoyed an active retirement. Dutch played in the senior softball league and the bowling league. He and Dolores loved traveling in their motorhome, hiking, bicycling, roller skating, ballroom dancing, going to Dixieland Jazz festivals and watching Phoenix Suns basketball. In later years, their favorite weekend getaway was Laughlin, Nevada where they enjoyed the resort atmosphere, the Colorado River, and the penny slots. Dutch also provided handyman and caregiver services to many friends and neighbors.

Dutch had a remarkable life. He was a devoted husband and father, and touched the lives of so many others in meaningful ways. He will be deeply missed by those who knew him.

Dutch is survived by his son, Dean Svoboda, two granddaughters and four great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Dolores (Erger) Svoboda, his father and mother Joe and Tillie (Earsa) Svoboda, his brother Leon Svoboda, and his sisters Adelaide (Svoboda) Cochran, and Wilma (Svoboda) Cole.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Hospice of the Valley at https://hov.org

His final resting place will be Sunland Cemetery Garden of Geth II, located at 15826 N. Del Webb Blvd, Sun City, AZ.