DeLong, Vincent Richard

Vincent Richard DeLong, 86, of Cedar Rapids, died Saturday, March 30, 2013, at Cottage Grove Place, after an extended illness. Visitation for friends, employees and extended family will be held at Cedar Memorial Funeral Home from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 7. There will be a private graveside service for immediate family members.

Vince leaves behind four sons, James (Kay), Douglas (Alexa) and Jeffrey of Cedar Rapids and Robert (Diane) of Prescott, Ariz.

He is also survived by six grandchildren, Darcy, Jaimie, Courtney, Brynn, Nick and Haley DeLong; two stepgrandchildren, Kim Readnour and Joel Odekirk; five great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Mary Ellen; his parents; and two sisters, Jean DeLong and Alice DeLong.

Vince was born Nov. 16, 1926, the youngest of three children, to Walter D. DeLong and Bessie (Burrows) Campbell in Rochester, Minn. He attended Rochester High School, was a member of the National Honor Society and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II as a radio communications operator. He graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in electrical engineering in 1951. He married Mary Ellen Rogers on Aug. 15, 1952, in Cedar Rapids.

Vince worked for Collins Radio Company (later Rockwell Collins Defense Division) for 33 years and played an instrumental role in developing the 618T single sideband radio transceiver for military and commercial aircraft communications. In 1968, he built and opened the Longbranch Supperclub with his wife, Mary Ellen. Later he went on to build the Best Western Longbranch Convention Center and Hotel complex. He also operated Best Western Cooper's Mill and Restaurant. He supervised restoration of the hotel property after the 2008 flood, before retiring in 2009. Vince enjoyed the challenges of engineering and operating a business, as well as working with many dedicated employees during his 42-year association with the company.

Family members would like to thank the staff of Cottage Grove Place-The Gardens in Cedar Rapids for the loving care they provided. They would also like to thank friends, customers and employees for their outpouring of comfort and support.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Cedar Valley Humane Society.

You may leave a message or tribute to the family on the Web page, under obituaries.

Published in The Gazette April 3, 2013.