Pfeifer, Leonard L.

Leonard L. Pfeifer, 63, of Cedar Rapids, lost his courageous battle with cancer Tuesday evening, Nov. 29, 2011, at Mercy Medical Center. Funeral services, with military honors: 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Matthew's Catholic Church, with the Rev. David Beckman officiating. Burial at a later date will be at Czech National Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Papich-Kuba Janeba Chapel West, 1604 J St. SW, and after 9:30 a.m. Monday at the church.

Leonard is survived by his children, Alexander Thomas and wife Priscilla, Gallup, N.M., Timothy Pfeifer, Cedar Rapids, Leonard Pfeifer II and wife Kathy, Laredo, Texas, and Chantelle Kramer and husband Mark and Theresa Pfeifer, both of Cedar Rapids;

15 grandchildren; brothers, Edward Voelpel and wife Joyce, Muscatine, Lee Pfeifer and wife Rosalinda, Menifee, Calif., and Fred Pfeifer, San Diego, Calif.; and sister, Paulina Pfeifer, Cedar Rapids.

He was preceded in death by his former wife, Rose Mae Pfeifer, on July 18, 2011; his parents, Lumir and Margaret (Rook) Pfeifer; and a sister, Paulina Voelpel Ytsen.

Leonard was born Sept. 6, 1948, in Cedar Rapids and lived here most of his life. He met Rose Mae Thomas in Santa Ana, Calif., in 1969 and they were married Sept. 17, 1970, in Hiawatha, Iowa. Their marriage eventually ended in divorce. Leonard had worked at Wilson's Meat Packing Plant and Iowa Manufacturing. For 35 years until his retirement in June 2010, Leonard was employed as a maintenance engineer at St. Matthew's Catholic Church and School. He was a Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War. Leonard was a member and past president of the Czech Heritage Foundation.

His greatest love was building floats which he had done for 33 years, first with the “Navajo Nightstalkers” and since 1989, for the Czech Heritage Foundation. Leonard also enjoyed helping decorate for St. Matthew's school events, including plays, Mardi Gras fundraisers and dances.

Since August 2010, Leonard had been receiving treatments at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Phoenix.

He was very proud of his Czech heritage, always had a positive attitude and was a very generous person, always willing to help people in any way that he could.

Military honors will be conducted by American Legion Post 727.

A memorial fund has been established in Leonard's name.

Published Dec. 3, 2011, in The Gazette