William Joseph Stepanek

WILLIAM JOSEPH STEPANEK

Cedar Rapids

William Joseph Stepanek, 63, of Largo, Fla., formerly of Cedar Rapids, joined his mother, Marie, and brother, Bernie, when he passed away on Thursday, March 28, 2019, from his hard-fought battle of cancer. Celebration of Life services will be 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 2, at Brosh Chapel and The Avacentre in Cedar Rapids, located at 2121 Bowling St. SW, with the Rev. Jim Fields officiating. Inurnment will be in Czech National Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, April 1, at The Avacentre at Brosh Chapel.

Bill will be so missed by his wife, Barb; daughter, Allyson Gries (Kevin); son, Alex Stepanek; beloved grandsons, Milo and Max Gries; father, Lou Stepanek; siblings, Mary Fields (Jim), Tom Stepanek (Sheila) and Kathleen Banowetz (Mark); mother-in-law, Marcie Doughan; first wife, Mary Himes (Mike); Barb's seven brothers and sisters and their spouses; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Bill was born Nov. 30, 1955, to Louis and Marie Stepanek in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He graduated from LaSalle High School in 1974. Throughout his life, Bill loved his family, his country and his work company,

Hy-Vee.

Bill married Mary Barta in 1975 and, in 1986, his little princess, Allyson, was born. Bill and Mary later divorced but always remained good friends and always put their daughter first. In 1999, Bill married Barbara Doughan. Bill was so lucky to add another treasure to his life when his son, Alex, was born in 1994. Bill's greatest joys in life were Allyson and Alex. They were his world, and he was so proud of the adults they became. As their family grew with son-in-law, Kevin, and his two little gregarious grandsons, Milo and Max, Bill's love of life spread even more.

In 1975, Bill's "Hy-Vee Helpful Smile" began when he started working at Hy-Vee on Wilson Avenue. Bill worked for Hy-Vee for 38 years before retiring in 2013, and loved every minute of it. Throughout his career, he made so many wonderful and long-lasting friendships because he lived by the motto, "Treat people the way you want to be treated."

Bill was a true patriot who never let grass grow beneath his feet. He loved his country and took great pride in showing his family the thrill of adventure as he took them from sea to shining sea. Many hours were spent in the car together because he did not want them to miss a single sight along the way. He loved so much of the country for its beauty and majesty, and loved spending time in Panama City Beach, where he and his family spent 20 years traveling for spring break; the Lake of the Ozarks, where many summers were spent boating at their family condo; Largo, Fla., where he and Barb spent their retirement, continuing to make new, cherished friends and memories with their cruising partners, Ray and Becky Doughan; and too many more places to mention.

The family would like to thank Dr. Ghosh, Mindi Martin and their outstanding staff at the Ghosh Center, Dr. Janet Merfeld giving so much of herself during Bill's radiation treatments, and the Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy staff for their compassionate care of Bill.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Anna Ghosh Foundation, P.O. Box 1248, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402-1248 or Hospice of Mercy.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.broshchapel.com.