Rodney Saari

RODNEY SAARI

Cedar Rapids

Rodney Saari, 71, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, April 10, 2021, at the Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha, Iowa. The family will greet friends from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, April 18, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Marion. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, April 19, at the funeral home. Burial will take place at Dunkard Cemetery in Midway. All guests are respectfully requested to wear a face mask and practice social distancing. The family request casual attire be worn by those attending. A livestream of the funeral service may be accessed on the funeral home website tribute page for Rodney, under "photos and videos or media," starting at 10 a.m. Monday, April 19.

Rod was born Jan. 12, 1950, in Virginia, Minn., the son of Wayne and Charlotte (Woods) Saari. He graduated from Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids. On June 21, 1969, he married Shari Blaylock and they later divorced. On Nov. 19, 1977, in Urbana, Iowa, Rod was united in marriage to Vicki Hepker. He was employed at A-1 Electric, Vasey Insulation, Northwind Insulation, CCB Packaging, Garling Construction, CV Insulation and he owned and operated Dumas's Bar and Grill for eight years. Rod was also a member of the Eagle's Club.

He is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife, Vicki Saari of Cedar Rapids; daughter, Tiffany (Rodney) Kuehl of Fairfax, Iowa; three sons, Joe Saari of Cedar Rapids, Casey Saari of Hiawatha, Iowa, and Cody (Amy) Saari of Chattaroy, Wash.; eight grandchildren, Crystal (Gage) Barnett of Cedar Rapids, Courtney (Alec) Kiburz of Cedar Rapids, Cassidy Kuehl (James Russell) of Cedar Rapids, Colby Manley of Cedar Rapids, Olivia Saari of The Woodlands, Texas, Jameson Saari of The Woodlands, Texas, Henry Saari of Chattaroy, Wash., and Bradley Saari of Chattaroy, Wash.; a great-grandchild expected to arrive on April 16, 2021, Hazel Russell of Cedar Rapids; former spouse, Shari Saari of Cedar Rapids; two sisters, Jill (Mike) Fitzpatrick of Cedar Rapids and Janelle (Dave) Kurth of Millstadt, Ill.; two sisters-in-law, Sue Saari of Robins, Iowa, and Laurie Saari of Imperial, Mo.; brother-in-law, Mike Hepker of Vinton, Iowa; many nieces and nephews; and former daughter-in-law, Niki Baker of The Woodlands, Texas.

Rod was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, David and Duane Saari; and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Ralph and Ila Hepker.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Rod's memory may be directed to Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy or the Monroe Township Fire Department.

Please share a memory of Rod at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.