Robert Crawford

ROBERT D. CRAWFORD

Cedar Rapids

Robert D. Crawford, 83, of Cedar Rapids, died early Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha, following a brief illness. Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church by Father Christopher Podhajsky. Burial: Czech National Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Papich-Kuba Funeral Home East, 1228 Second St. SE, where a vigil service begins at 6:30 p.m.

Surviving Robert are two daughters, Mary Jo Crawford, Cedar Rapids, and Sharon Fitzgerald, Fort Dodge; and four grandchildren, Derek and Matthew Crawford, Cedar Rapids, Jimmy Fitzgerald, Ames, and Maggie Fitzgerald, Fort Dodge.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce; son-in-law, Jim Fitzgerald; parents, Fred and Wilma (McNutt) Crawford; brothers, Russ and Ray Crawford; and a sister, Barb Shuckers.

Robert was born Dec. 14, 1933, in Cedar Rapids and was a lifelong resident. He married Joyce A. Vanicek on May 23, 1953, at Sinclair Memorial Presbyterian Church in Cedar Rapids. Joyce died June 19, 2014. Bob was employed at Universal Engineering for over 25 years, retiring as a foreman in 1998.

Bob was an Army veteran of the Korean War. He was a member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church. Bob was actively involved in the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Cedar Rapids and served as its president for 30 years. He was a spokesman for Catholic Charities in Eastern Iowa for many years.

Memorial contributions may be given to St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church and Hospice of Mercy.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.papich-kubafs.com under obituaries.