Paul Gatens Jr.

PAUL GATENS JR.

Cedar Rapids

Paul Gatens Jr., 87, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015, after a brief illness at his daughter's home surrounded by his family. Services: noon Saturday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church by the Rev. Christopher Podhajsky. Burial: Mount Calvary Cemetery. A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Friday at Teahen Funeral Home, where friends may visit with the family from 5 to 7 p.m., and on Saturday at the church after 11 a.m.

Paul was born in Des Moines on Aug. 9, 1928, to Paul Sr. and Helen Geiger Gatens. They moved to Norway in 1938. He attended Norway High School, where he played basketball and baseball, and graduated in 1946. He was a member of Norway's first baseball team to go to state.

He joined the U.S. Marine Corps after high school and was stationed in Southern California. Paul married Louise Rickman on Sept. 10, 1949, in Cedar Rapids. He worked for Witwer Grocery prior to 39 years at the Cedar Rapids Gazette as a printer, retiring in 1991.

Paul was a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan and an avid bowler. He enjoyed woodworking and playing cards. Paul and Louise loved to listen and dance to Big Band music.

Paul is survived by his children, Michael (Marcia) Gatens of Maryville, Ill., Cathy (Jim) Stibal of Peoria, Ill., Gregg (Patty) Gatens of Cedar Rapids, Linda (Dave) Luther of Vinton, Karen (Al) Buwalda of Harvest, Ala., and Sandy (Steve) Warner of Cedar Rapids; 12 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife; parents; three sisters, infant Patricia Gatens, Gaylene Lowder and Rita Garwood; and brothers-in-law, Virgil Garwood and Ken Lowder.

A special thanks to Anita LeGrand for her continued family support and an additional thank you to Dr. Melanie Stalhberg and Hospice of Mercy.

Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Mercy.

Online condolences can be left at www.teahen funeralhome.com.