Robert Brown

ROBERT BROWN

Cedar Rapids

Robert Lee Brown, 87, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha. A Funeral Mass celebrating Bob's life will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8, at St. Jude's Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, with the Rev. Mark Reasoner officiating. Burial, with military rites, will be in St. Joseph's Cemetery, rural Cedar Rapids. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Cedar Memorial Westside Chapel and from 10:30 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church.

Survivors include his daughters, Debra (Gary) Lapsey of Cedar Rapids, Karen (Steve) West of St. John, Ind., and Sandra (Dean) Miller of Anamosa; grandchildren, Carolyn Lapsey, Zachary and Sarah West, Joshua (Krishna) Miller and Kylie Miller; five great-grandchildren, Lillian, Jazliene, Braedyn, Ellie and Carson; brother, Dan (Nancy) Brown of Sullivan, Ind.; sister, Jane Padgett of Worthington, Ind.; brother-in-law, Don (Teresa) Long of Guemes Island, Wash.; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Lorraine; siblings, John Brown and Maxine Tatum; children, Michael and Timothy; and grandchildren, Amanda and David West.

Robert Lee Brown was born June 7, 1927, in Sullivan, Ind., the son of Carl and Carolyn (Mechler) Brown. He lived in Iowa City during his formative years where he graduated from St. Patrick's High School. Bob was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving during the Korean War. On May 16, 1953, he married Eva Lorraine Long at St. Ludmila's Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids. He was happily married and devoted to Lorraine for 54 years until her passing in 2007. After returning from the military, Bob worked at Collins Radio. He then was employed by FMC Corp. for 30 years until its closing. Before finally retiring in 1988, Bob worked at Iowa National Mutual.

He was an avid Iowa Hawkeye and Chicago Cubs fan, longtime member of St. Jude's Catholic Church and lifetime member of American Legion Hanford Post 5. Bob loved watching his grandchildren at sporting and school events and will be remembered for his outgoing personality, ability to talk to anyone, sense of humor and love of family.

He will be greatly missed by all who loved and knew him.

Bob has resided at Ridgeview Assisted Living the last year where he was supported by the Ridgeview staff and until recently, the Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy staff.

Memorials may be given in his name to Hospice of Mercy, 315 18th Ave., Hiawatha, IA 52233.

Online condolences may be left at www.cedar memorial.com under "obituaries."