Bateman Jr., Francis Allen

Francis Allen Bateman Jr., 85, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011, in St. Luke's Hospital after complications from a stroke. Visitation will be at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service on Wilson Avenue in Cedar Rapids from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 1, with Masonic services at 7 p.m. Services will be at Salem United Methodist Church, 3715 33rd Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, on Wednesday, March 2, at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.

Francis is survived by his wife of 62 years, Dalene; son, Les Sr. (Denise) of Palo; daughter, Lorie (John Saikaly) of Walford; three grandchildren, Debbie (Rob) Sullivan, Les Jr. (Darrah) Bateman and Julie (Kevin) Klawiter, all of Palo; nine great-grandchildren; niece, Lisbeth Olson of Cedar Rapids; two nephews; and six nieces. Also surviving are two brothers-in-law, Ray (Pat) Gardner and Walter Jr. (Shirley) Gardner, all of Albia; sisters-in-law, Carol Gardner of Albia and Diane Gardner of Texas; and special friends, Randy and Cindy Dee and their children, Rachel, Jacob and Jordan.

Francis was preceded in death by his parents, Francis Allen Bateman Sr. and Hilda Alvida Johnson; his sister, Lois Berniece Olson; daughter-in-law, Rita Bateman; and his brothers-in-law, Clyde Gardner and Robert Olson.

Francis was born Nov. 14, 1925, in Hiteman, Iowa. On Aug. 27, 1948, he was united in marriage to Dalene Gardner in Albia. He retired from Farmstead Foods.

He was a member of Salem United Methodist Church, a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge and a member of the P3 Union.

Memorials may be directed to Salem United Methodist Church and St. Luke's Hospice in Francis' memory.

Please sign the online guest book for Francis at  under obituaries.