Thomas Fitzpatrick

THOMAS "TOM" FITZPATRICK

Cedar Rapids

The world lost a beloved son, brother and husband, an exceptional father, and a proud, loving grandfather and great-grandfather on Feb. 3, 2016.

Thomas Arlan (Tom) Fitzpatrick, 87, of Cedar Rapids, passed away at Cottage Grove Place after a long battle with cancer.

Tom was born Nov. 3, 1928, in Iowa City, Iowa, the son of James T. Fitzpatrick and Rena (Tarbox) Fitzpatrick. He attended Immaculate Conception Church in Cedar Rapids. It also was at Immaculate Conception that he was married to Joan Gorman on June 16, 1950, by the Rev. A.P. White.

Tom worked in the construction trades his entire life, lying about his age to get his first job as a brick tender at age 15. From that day forward he prided himself on his hard work ethic.

In 1969, Tom founded Fitzpatrick Concrete Construction and owned that business until his retirement in late 1998.

After retirement, he and his wife, Joan, moved to Sun City West, Ariz. Due to failing health, they returned to the Cedar Rapids area in 2013.

Thomas is survived by three sons, Timothy (Denise) Fitzpatrick, Jeffrey (Carol) Fitzpatrick and Dennis (Teresa) Fitzpatrick, all of Cedar Rapids; three daughters, Christine (Mark) Milner of Beaverton, Ore., Rene (Daniel) Melchior of Fayetteville, Tenn., and Denise Fitzpatrick of Elkhorn, Wis.; a sister, Shirley A. (Fitzpatrick) May of Sun City West; a brother, Donie L. (Lola) Fitzpatrick of Cedar Rapids; 17 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Thomas was preceded in death by his parents, James T. and Rena S. Fitzpatrick; brothers, James T. Fitzpatrick Jr. (died 1990), Irving J. Fitzpatrick (died 1990), Edward R. Fitzpatrick (died 2012), Leo L. Fitzpatrick (died 1998) and James B. Fitzpatrick (died at age 2 in 1941); and sisters, Marguerite M. "Judy" Fitzpatrick (died 2011) and Barbara (Fitzpatrick) Driscoll (died 2016).

Breakfast was a special thing for Tom, but even more special for those who shared it with him. He could always be found early mornings at Donutland or Tommy's Cafe, sipping his morning coffee. Children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews relished the times they got to join him on his morning excursions. Game night was always precious too. Children, and later grandchildren, all have wonderful memories of learning how to play poker or getting schooled in Monopoly around Grandpa's kitchen table.

What Tom treasured most, though, was his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He loved to dote on them and would sit and talk for hours about his love for them and the delightful memories he had of them.

Tom will be missed, but the wonderful memories he made for us all will soften that pain until we see him again.

Funeral Mass will be 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 8, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, with the Rev. Ivan Nienhaus officiating. Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories State Room, where a vigil will be at

3:30 p.m.

Memorials may be given in his name to St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 120 Fifth St. NW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52405 or Hospice of Mercy, 315 18th Ave., Hiawatha, IA 52233.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.