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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
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Jack Childers
JACK "BOB" CHILDERS
Cedar Rapids
Jack J. "Bob" Childers, 91, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died Sunday, June 21, 2015, at St. Luke's Hospital, Cedar Rapids, following a long struggle with COPD. Family will greet friends from noon to 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 25, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids. Private family graveside will be held at Linwood Mausoleum, Cedar Rapids.
Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Velma; sister, Marjorie (Jeri) Williams; brother, Verle Dean; daughters, Donna (Joel) Schmitz of Urbana, Brenda Kloos of Cedar Rapids and Jean (Tom) English of Cedar Rapids; five grandchildren, Aric (Lori Hansen) Fett, Adam (Leta) Fett, Amy (Chad) Sherrets, Larrissa (Carl) Ruffin and Edmund (Ashley) English, all of Cedar Rapids; and nine great-grandchildren, Taylor, Cameron and Piper Sherrets and Abby Fett, all of Cedar Rapids, Kay Fett of Vinton, Carl III of Cedar Rapids, and Marcus, Kaya and Carly Ruffin, all of Nevada, Iowa.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Charles, Marvin, Ronald, James, Mernice "Dusty," Lyndon and Eugene; sisters, Adelina and Margaret; and mother-in-law and father-in-law, John Cohrt and Caroline (Stroh) Cohrt.
Jack was born on Nov. 1, 1923, in Bakersfield, Calif., son of Jack and Alta (Johnson) Childers. He served in the U.S. Army, 101st Airborne, from 1943 to 1945, serving in Ardennes, Rhineland and central Europe. He was in the invasion of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge in France as a 50-caliber machine gunner and driver. Jack drove army trucks, hauling ammunition, supplies and personnel under enemy gunfire. He also flew gliders during his tour. He received two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and a Gold Conduct medal.
Jack married Velma Cohrt on Nov. 12, 1950, in La Porte City, Iowa. Jack worked for Concrete Material (Martin Marietta) as a welder and machinist for 45 years, until his retirement in 1985. He loved to travel, tinker with mechanics and watch his beloved westerns and grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to St. Luke's Hospice.
Please share a memory of Jack at www.
murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
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