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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.
Bennett Pilgrim
BENNETT "PETE" PILGRIM
Cedar Rapids
Bennett "Pete" Pilgrim, 88, of Cedar Rapids, died Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, Aug. 12, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Cedar Memorial Funeral Home.
Pete was born Sept. 15, 1928, the son of Amos and Lena (Bennett) Pilgrim, in Mineral Wells, Texas. He was married to Loretta Shamus on Nov. 7, 1964, in Detroit, Mich. Pete enlisted with the U.S. Navy in 1945, served during World War II and retired in 1967. He was stationed on six different ships. Pete was in charge of organizing the reunions annually for the USS Abnaki 96, the first ship he was on. After retirement, he worked for Kirkwood Community College for over 30 years as an instructor and later as director of plant services.
Pete was a member of the American Legion, Fleet Reserve Association and the Refrigeration Services Engineers Society (RSES). He greatly enjoyed gardening and golfing. More than anything, Pete loved spending time with his family and shipmates.
Survivors include his wife, Loretta Pilgrim; son, Craig (Jennifer) Pilgrim; daughter, Rachel (Paul) Boyd; five grandchildren, Drew, Josh and Jake Boyd, Luke and Adam Pilgrim; and brother, Werner Pilgrim.
He was preceded in death by his parents and five siblings.
Memorials may be directed to the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House in memory of Pete.
Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.
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