Dawson, Sylvan L.

Sylvan L. Dawson, 79, of Marion, died May 11, 2011, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha, following an extended battle with cancer. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 28, (Sylvan's birthday) at First Congregational United Church of Christ. The Rev. Bob David will officiate. Private inurnment will take place at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Ann Dawson; his children, Jennifer Dawson of Chehalis, Wash., Douglas Dawson of Cedar Rapids, Kristin Dawson of Marion and Julia (Mark) Meaker of Centralia, Wash.; stepson, Dr. William Renk of Rockford, Ill.; grandchildren, Shannon Mead, Christopher Paul and Miranda Meaker, all of Centralia, Wash., and Brienna Dawson of Marion; his siblings, Jerry (Judith) Dawson of Tampa, Fla., Dave (Karen) Dawson of Boulder, Colo., Mark (Marla) Dawson of Sioux Falls, S.D., and Ila (Charles) Little of Placitas, N.M.; and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Daniel P. Dawson; sister, Beth Fixsen; and his first wife, Iris.

Sylvan Lee Dawson was born May 28, 1931, in Goodland, Kan., the son of Ira L. and Margery (Jones) Dawson. He graduated from Goodland High School in 1949. He graduated from Kansas State in 1954 with his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. He served honorably in the United States Army from 1954-1956 during the Korean War. In 1956, he joined Collins Radio Co., and in 1958, he returned to Kansas State and graduated with his master's degree in electrical engineering. He began work again with Rockwell Collins in 1960 and had a successful 32-year career in engineering.

Throughout his career he was awarded four U.S. patents, authored a part of a reference book, and was recognized as Engineer of the Year in 1986. Sylvan was a firm believer in education, and gave money, a computerized telescope and scholarships to 20 graduates of Goodland High School. He had a long time interest in astronomy and photography.

On Aug. 14, 1988, he was united in marriage to Mary Ann Renk. He enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and many European countries, and though losing his sight he still enjoyed meeting people and hearing about the places he and Mary Ann visited. He was a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ.

He will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First Congregational United Church of Christ, 361 17th St. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403.

Please leave a message, tribute or memory to Sylvan's family on the webpage,  under Obituaries.