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McDermott, Patrick F.
Patrick F. McDermott, 82, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Dec. 9, 2011, at Mercy Medical Center from a fall and complications of pneumonia. A vigil service and visitation will be held Monday, Dec. 12, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Cedar Memorial Family Center and Library. A funeral Mass will be at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at All Saints Catholic Church, 720 29th St. SE. Visitation is an hour before the service at the church. Burial will follow at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.
He was born the son of John and Rosemary (Murphy) McDermott on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 1929. He graduated from St. Pat's High School in 1947 and married Rita Zobl on May 17, 1951, at St. Wenceslaus Church.
Throughout his life Patrick enjoyed fishing on the Mississippi River and the Lac Suel area in Canada. For 30+ years he invited many of his friends and relatives to enjoy the wilderness and fish with him. He also enjoyed boxing on TV and at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Patrick had a green thumb and was proud of his tomato plants. He enjoyed building and flying his remote control planes and built them to perfection. He was a member of the Cedar Rapids Sky Hawks Club and The Academy of Aeronautics and received many awards. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 788. He served in the U.S. Army 25th Infantry Division during the Korean conflict and was awarded the Purple Heart. Patrick was employed by Rockwell-Collins for 37 years, retiring in 1985. He was very proud of his Irish heritage and had a wonderful sense of humor and enjoyed practical jokes.
Surviving are his wife of 60 years, Rita; five children, Kathleen Woode of Fort Worth, Texas, and Michael McDermott (Shirley Matheny), Eileen McDermott, Edward McDermott (Leah Bond) and Loreen McDermott, all of Cedar Rapids; one grandson, Benjamin Dirks (Diana Binz) of Fort Worth, Texas; two sisters, Donna Hernandez and Sara McDermott of Cedar Rapids; a beloved uncle, Donald McDermott of Sparta, N.J.; and eight nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Mary Stastny.
The family would like to thank the staff of Mercy Medical Center for their great care, especially the Mercy Hospice unit. We would also like to thank Dr. Mark Goedken.
Online condolences may be extended to the family at
Published Dec. 11, 2011, in The Gazette
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