Ivah Vater

IVAH B. VATER Cedar Rapids Ivah B. Vater passed away Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, after a short illness. She was 104 years old. She had lived in Cedar Rapids most of her adult life and for the last eight years, she resided at Hallmar at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids. A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, at Immaculate Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids. The family will receive relatives and friends one hour before the service beginning at 9 a.m. Interment will be held at Mount Calvary Cemetery. Memorials, if desired, may be directed to St. Jude's Children's Hospital or Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Ivah was born Aug. 21, 1912, to William and Bessie Jackson James. She was born in a log cabin on her grandmother's farm in Oden, Ark. She graduated from high school in Maude, Okla. She met and married Robert W. Vater in Oklahoma City. They married on May 31, 1939. The couple moved to Cedar Rapids in the early 1940s. Ivah had an avid interest in antiques and dolls, but she was most well known as a bridge player and teacher. She taught at the YMCA and many bridge clubs in the area. She also loved putting on a Fourth of July breakfast for the marathon runners each year. She decorated her home and yard with a patriotic theme and along with her neighbors, provided breakfast on the front lawn. Her love of people and especially children will be remembered. She always had a story and a little prize for visiting children. She was known to many friends as "Aunt Ivah," as well as many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband of 60 years, Robert; one sister, one brother and many nieces and nephews. The family would like to extend their appreciation to the staff at Hallmar at Mercy Medical Center for the exceptional care she received.