Bob Chadima

BOB CHADIMA

5/25/1925 - 3/5/2016

Cedar Rapids

Bob Chadima, beloved

father, husband, mentor, friend and inspiration,

concluded his earthly sojourn late Saturday, March 5, 2016, after nearly 91

wonderful circuits around the sun. He broke his hip three weeks earlier and was making a tremendous recovery, but due to

multiple complications he died Saturday night. He was surrounded by family and at peace at the conclusion of his amazing life.

After growing up as part of the rambunctious Chadima clan in Cedar

Rapids, Bob graduated from the U.S. Naval

Academy in 1947 and married the first love of his life, Charlotte Kay Wilson, from Troy Mills. He served as an officer in the Navy for 12 years, which

included tours of duty

during the Korean War. Subsequently he returned home to Cedar Rapids to help out with the family ice business, Hubbard Ice and Fuel. With the decline in ice harvests from the

Cedar River and the advent of home refrigeration, Bob purchased the Kacena Company which grew into the Thorarc Company. Thorarc was a welding and industrial gas supply distributorship, with headquarters in Cedar Rapids and seven branch offices around

eastern Iowa.

Bob and Charlotte raised three children,

Susan, Sarah and David, each of whom went on to raise families of their own in Topsham, Maine; Vermillion, S.D.; and Cedar Rapids, respectively.

After selling Thorarc Company, Bob entered

into a new career in

commercial real estate, Thorland Company. He most recently owned, restored and managed the Cherry building and other properties in the New

Bohemia Arts & Culture District of Cedar Rapids, sharing management of it with his daughter-in-law, Lijun. Bob found tremendous satisfaction in working with the artists and entrepreneurs in the buildings and was very proud to be able to preserve and re-purpose historic buildings to provide a truly unique workspace that complements their creativity and helps contribute to their success. Following the flood of 2008, the recovery of the buildings and revitalization of the NewBo neighborhood was an intense focus of his energy and talents. Bob was a life-long member of Downtown Rotary and served on the boards of directors of numerous philanthropic organizations, including co-chair of the United Way.

Following Charlotte's death in 2009, Bob met and married the second love of his life, Joan Lynch Arthurs. With joy, the

family expanded to include her three children, Mike, Kelly and Kristy, their spouses and children. The entire family is extremely grateful for the nearly four years of marriage they

enjoyed together. Their very active lifestyle included many friends in the Book & Bottle Club, Peas & Carrots Supper Club and ROMEO (Retired Old Men Eating Out) Club. Dad and Joan especially enjoyed the performing arts. Bob woke each morning to the strains of classical music and avidly attended symphony and theater, as well as the many other cultural venues in the corridor.

A memorial service and celebration of life will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Cedar Rapids on Thursday, March 10. The family will gather to greet friends at 10 a.m., the

service will begin at 11 a.m., followed by a lunch reception. Please join us if you are able. Private family inurnment will be held at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.

"Captain Bob" is deeply missed and loved by all.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Bob's name may be directed to The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, www.gcrcf.org/donors.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.