Donald Tauke

DONALD L. TAUKE

Cedar Rapids

Donald "Don" Lawrence Tauke, 85, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Tuesday, July 25, 2017, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy following a sudden illness.

A funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday, July 31, at St. Matthew Catholic Church, 2310 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids, by the Rev. Steve Garner. Family and friends are invited to a luncheon at the church immediately following the Mass. Burial will be private. Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Don was born Sept. 14, 1931, in Dyersville, Iowa, the son of Albert and Marcella (Boeckenstedt) Tauke. Don was raised on the family farm in Greeley, Iowa, and graduated from Greeley High School, where he excelled as an athlete. He then served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War and later graduated from the University of Iowa with a bachelor's degree in engineering. He married Joan B. Nickol on July 28, 1962, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Epworth, Iowa. He worked as a civil engineer for many years in Linn and Delaware counties. His favorite projects included construction of the chapel at Mount Mercy College and his own development of the Twin Knolls 5th subdivision. After engineering, he and Joan began investing in residential and commercial real estate.

Don was a huge animal lover who enjoyed farming, golfing, flying his plane, big band music and, more recently, watching "Forensic Files," "Gunsmoke" and the "Andy Griffith Show." He was an avid Cubs and Iowa Hawkeye fan. Don also loved tinkering with lawn mowers, checking the stock market and browsing Craigslist.

Don is survived by his wife of 54 years, Dr. Joan Nickol; his son, Dr. Jason (Marlyse) Tauke of Eastborough, Kan.; his daughter, Kathy Tauke (Brad Loney) of Marion, Iowa; his daughter-in-law, Denise Tauke of Andover, Kan.; his siblings, Gladys (Gerry) Schnieders of Dyersville, Iowa, Wayne (Louise) Tauke of Edgewood, Iowa, and Elaine Beall of Leawood, Kan.; and his grandchildren, Nick Tauke, Alyssa Tauke, Alex Tauke, Liana Tauke, Gracie Tauke and Nora Tauke.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother-in-law, Earl Beall.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to the wonderful caregivers at Synergy Home Care, especially his primary caregiver, Terri Kirklin, for the loving care given to Don the past few years.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Cedar Valley Humane Society in memory of Don.

Please leave a message for the family on the web page www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.