Eads, Judge William R.

Judge William R. Eads, 86, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Thursday, Aug. 8, 2013. Services: 11 a.m. Monday at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 1340 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, by the Rev. Lloyd Brockmeyer and the Rev. Harlan Gillespie. Burial: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. A lunch at the church will follow the burial. Visitation will be held at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home on Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. Per the family's request the casket will be closed at all times.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy of Cedar Rapids; their children, Carolyn Leese (husband David) of Allen, Texas and Jennifer Anderson (husband Mark) of Eagleville, Pa.; a sister, Patricia Hunt of Sacramento, Calif.; and grandchildren, Megan, Jennifer (husband Brian), Katie and Sarah.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother and a sister.

Judge Eads was born Feb. 3, 1927, in Ida Grove, Iowa. As a youth in Ida Grove, his family was poor and he was moved by Horatio Alger rags to riches books that rewarded hard work. After graduation from high school at Ida Grove, he attended the University of Iowa, where he received his undergraduate degree in 1951. He then served two years in the Army, serving mostly in France. Upon being discharged, he returned to Iowa and entered law school at the University of Iowa, where he received his juris doctorate in 1957. He was married to Dorothy Reager on Sept. 7, 1957, in Primghar, Iowa.

He practiced law in Cedar Rapids before being appointed to the District Court bench in 1963 by Gov. Harold Hughes. Judge Eads was a judge in the District Court from 1963 to 2000. When he retired after 37 years as a judge, he had served longer on the District Court bench than any other judge, except for one. He served as Chief Judge of the 6th Judicial District for many years, first being appointed chief judge in 1979. During his time on the bench, Judge Eads presided over many significant cases, some of which resulted in new law. He ruled that when a wife worked to put her husband through law school and was then divorced by him, the wife should receive compensation for her work toward her husband's degree. In another case, he established law on what evidence a prosecutor must disclose to a person accused of a crime. Judge Eads was a highly respected judge with a soft and understanding demeanor.

He served as president of many organizations, including the Iowa Judges Association and the Cedar Rapids Literary Club. He was a trustee for St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Cedar Rapids. For a number of years, he was co-chairman of the program committee of the judges' continuing legal education program for the state of Iowa. He wrote various articles for The Gazette, volunteered for the Free Medical Clinic in Cedar Rapids and judged mock trials at the University of Iowa College of Law, along with doing numerous other volunteer work.

Judge Eads' kindness, especially to new attorneys and litigants, will always be remembered.

Memorial donations may be given to St. Paul's United Methodist Church, the YMCA in Cedar Rapids or to Hospice of Mercy.

Online condolences may be sent to under the obituaries.

Published Aug. 10, 2013 in The Gazette

Reminder notice published Aug. 11, 2013 in The Gazette