116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Obituaries
The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication on thegazette.com at 6 p.m. and in the daily edition the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
Allen Leroy Raplinger
ALLEN LEROY RAPLINGER
Cedar Rapids
Allen Leroy Raplinger, longtime resident of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and a proud United States Veteran, passed away on Oct. 6, 2021, at Veterans Affairs Hospital in Iowa City.
A Celebration of Life gathering will be held Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel Stateroom, 4200 First Ave. NE, in Cedar Rapids. A memorial service will be held at a later date. To share flowers, thoughts, a fond memory, or condolence with Allen's family, please visit the Cedar Memorial website at www.cedarmemorial.com.
Allen was born Sept. 5, 1938, in What Cheer, Iowa, to beloved parents Marion and Goldia Raplinger. Allen and his four scrappy siblings grew up mostly in the What Cheer and Delta, Iowa, region of Keokuk County, where he graduated from Delta High School in 1957.
Allen joined the United States Army in 1962, attending the Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., training center. Allen was assigned to Company D, Fifth Battalion, Second Regiment, which took him overseas for the first time, proudly serving in the Federal Republic of Germany.
After leaving the service of his country, Allen married Barbara Bruns of Sigourney Iowa on his birthday, Sept. 5, 1965, in Sigourney. They were united for 56 years.
Allen labored for 30 years as a union manufacturer at Weyerhaeuser in Cedar Rapids, where he made many dear lifelong friends. Allen's family has fond memories of the annual company picnics where families united for summer fun.
Allen was fond of stock car racing and enjoyed the local circuit at Hawkeye Downs with his family and work friends. He was an avid fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes and proud father of a University of Iowa graduate. Allen attended Life Church in Cedar Rapids.
Allen was preceded in death by his parents, Marion and Goldia Raplinger, and his brothers, Glenn Raplinger of Green Bay, Wis., and Larry Raplinger of What Cheer, Iowa. He is survived by his sisters, Carolyn Krum of Bentonville, Ark., and Iola Walton of Fayetteville, Ark. His wife, Barbara, and sons, Doug and Danny, also survive him.
Memorials may be sent in his name to the Linn Grove Presbyterian Church, 2000 Linn Grove Rd., Mt. Vernon, IA 52314.
Daily Newsletters