Appleby Jr., Thomas Dean

Thomas Dean Appleby Jr., 40, of Cedar Rapids, died Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 22, 2013, at Mercy Medical Center. Services: 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church by Deacon Jim Berger. Burial: Czech National Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Papich-Kuba Funeral Home East, 1228 Second St. SE.

Tom is survived by his wife, Lori; daughters, Courtney Appleby and boyfriend Dylan Davis, Caitlin Appleby and Abbey Appleby; granddaughter, Kinley Davis; parents, Thomas Sr. and Jo Ann Appleby; sisters, Jodie (Eric) Baker and Crissy (Justin) Haller; and grandparents, Melvin and Jewell Richmond, all of Cedar Rapids; and many aunts, uncles, nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Freddie and Luella Appleby.

Tom was born Aug. 9, 1973, in Columbia, S.C., and moved to Cedar Rapids as an infant. He was baptized in the Methodist faith. Tom married Lori Marie Horak on July 31, 1993, in Cedar Rapids. He had worked for Climate Engineers Inc. and also as an union iron worker for several years. The majority of his working life was spent as a self-employed salesman selling used cars.

Tom was a member of Iron Workers Union Local 89 in Cedar Rapids. He was a very happy-go-lucky person and a big jokester. Tom loved life and his wife, daughters and granddaughter meant the world to him.

Instead of flowers, memorials may be given to the Appleby family, 2420 Handley Dr. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404.

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

Published Oct. 24, 2013 in The Gazette