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The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication on thegazette.com at 6 p.m. and in the daily edition the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
Ragona, Paul William
Paul William Ragona, 89, of Cedar Rapids, died Jan. 16, 2013, in Cedar Rapids. Graveside services will be 1 p.m. Monday at Oak Hill Cemetery, with military honors. Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Paul is survived by his sister, Elizabeth J. Gillon of Cedar Rapids; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Robert Francis Ragona.
During World War II, Paul served in the 8th Armored Division and recounted his life-changing experiences as a survivor of D-Day, a driver in the “Red Ball Express,” carrying supplies to the front lines for the troops, and in the Siege of Bastogne. After the war, Paul studied at the Cedar Rapids Business College. He worked many years as a technician at Penick and Ford, followed by his position at Herman Brown.
Please leave an online condolence for the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.
Published Jan. 20, 2013 in The Gazette
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