Duane Virgil Coonrod

Duane Virgil Coonrod

Cedar Rapids

Duane Virgil Coonrod, 90, of Cedar Rapids, died at his home on Wednesday, October 22, 2025. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, October 27, at Teahen Funeral Home with Penny Ackerman officiating. Visitation will take place from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday, October 26, at the funeral home and one hour before the service on Monday. Burial will follow at Spring Grove Cemetery, Palo.

Duane was born January 23, 1935, in Palo, Iowa, the son of Virgil and Lillian (Rawson) Coonrod. He attended school in Palo and served in the Iowa National Guard. On June 6, 1970, he was united in marriage to Frieda McCormick in Moline, Illinois.

A hard-working and talented man, Duane was a crane operator for Coonrod Wrecker & Crane, where he worked until his retirement in 2008. He helped build and innovate equipment that shaped the business into what it is today; creating the first enclosed-cab skid loader, developing wheels for the cranes to be driven on the rails to clean up derailments across the Midwest, and designing and building angle beams to upright a loaded semi. He made concrete spikes for wreckers, and even designed platforms and forks for the end of the crane boom. P & H rented his crane so the engineers could copy his clutch design. He was known for his steady hand, so precise he could thread a needle with a crane.

Duane was a member of Operating Engineers Group #234 and was inducted into the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame on September 27, 2002. He was often seen around town with his beloved dogs and treasured the time he spent with his grandchildren.

He is survived by his loving wife, Frieda Coonrod of Cedar Rapids; two daughters, Dana (Kris) Sjobakken of Marion and Kelly (Bill) Zbanek of Shueyville; granddaughters, Sara and Samantha Sjobakken; brother, Donald (Shirley) Coonrod; sisters, Dorene Delaney and Diane Spicer; brother-in-law, Harold (Jean) McCormick; nieces, Karen Coonrod and Joni Delaney; nephews, Dean (Shelly) Spicer, Tommy Delaney, and Dan Delaney; long-time friend, Speed; and his faithful companions, Duke and PoJo.

He was preceded in death by his daughter Kimberly Coonrod, nephews Keith Coonrod and David Spicer, niece Denise Spicer, brother-in-law Tom Delaney, and many loyal Schnauzer companions.

Duane’s family extends a special thank-you to the caregivers of UnityPoint Hospice. Special thank-you to Boulevard Grill and My Mom’s Bakery for keeping him well fed.

Memorials may be directed to the family to be used for an established memorial fund.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.teahenfuneralhome.com.