Harris, John William

John William Harris, 59, died Sunday, June 5, 2011, at Heritage Nursing & Rehab Center, under the care of Mercy Hospice. Memorial Services: 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 8, at St. Wenceslaus Church, Cedar Rapids. Family will greet friends from 9 a.m. until service time at the church. Arrangements with Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids.

He is survived by his mother, Bernice; brother, LeRoy (Sharon) Harris; two sisters, Vicky (Tom) Podhajsky and Bernita Beltz; and 30 nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Roy Harris; two brothers, Joseph and Jim Harris; and grandparents, Roy and Martha Harris and John and Emma Zak.

John was born May 16, 1952, at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids. He attended St. Wenceslaus School and Regis High School and graduated from Jefferson High School in 1970. He worked at Conoco Station and Car Wash after graduation and also other local jobs in Cedar Rapids. Upon becoming disabled, he worked for Options of Linn County for 10 years, until he had a stroke in 2010. John enjoyed listening to music, especially Michael Jackson and the Beatles, nature activities, fishing, gardening, working with his hands and being a salesman for fundraisers. John was a lifetime member of St. Wenceslaus Church, where he started as an altar boy.

Memorials may be directed to Options of Linn County in memory of John.

Please sign the online guest book for John at under obituaries.