Davis, Lawrence 'Spike'

Lawrence “Spike” Davis, 75, of Cedar Rapids, died of a brain tumor on Friday, July 15, 2011, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice of Mercy in Hiawatha. He was passed from the loving arms of his entire family into the loving arms of our Lord Jesus. Funeral Mass: 10 a.m. Monday, July 18, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, by Father Ivan Nienhaus. Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Cedar Rapids, where a vigil service will begin at 2 p.m. There also will be visitation one hour before the service at the church. Burial: St. John's Cemetery, with military honors by American Legion Post 727.

Survivors include his wife, Laurie; seven children, Terri (Jim) Archibald, Danny Davis, Mike Davis, Patty (Jerry) Greiner, Cathy (Darrell) Piper, Mark (Beth) Davis and Matt Davis; seven bonus children, Joseph (Marcia) Downes, Thomas (Susan) Downes, Paul (Karen) Downes, Julie (Darrell) Streeter, David (Julianne) Downes, Anne-Marie (Matt) Yanoschik and Amy Downes; over 60 grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Also surviving are his brothers and sister, Father Augustine Davis OSB, Joseph (Mary) Davis, Rose Davis and Robert (Sally) Davis; and sister-in-law, Jennie Davis.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Mary Elizabeth; his brother, Ronald Davis; and a bonus son, Michael Downes.

Spike was born Aug. 23, 1935, the son of Claire and Georgette (Lana) Davis, in Swisher, Iowa. He graduated from St. Patrick's High School and then served with the U.S. Army from 1954-1957. He married Mary Elizabeth Pooler on Aug. 2, 1956, and to this union had seven children. She passed away on March 7, 2003. He then reunited with his high school sweetheart, Laurie Hogan, whom he married on Oct. 9, 2004. Spike worked at Hogan's Carburetor & Electric for 28 years, Burd Siding, and then retired from All Seasons Equipment in 2005.

Spike's faith and family were everything to him. He was a longtime active member at St. Patrick's Catholic Church. He was also an active member of SaPaDaPaSo. He was an avid sports fan of the Cubs, Hawkeyes, and Eagles. Also, Spike had an astonishing collection of lighters.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the St. Patrick's flood restoration in Cedar Rapids.

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