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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Obituaries
The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication online and in the newspaper the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
Erik Spaw
Erik Spaw
Cedar Rapids
Erik Spaw passed away after an accident on May 6, 2022.
Erik is survived by his mother, Karen A. Spaw; brother, Johnny (Bronica) Spaw; nephews, Bronson Spaw and Blane Wilson; and brother, Ray Spaw, all of Cedar Rapids; sister, Kari (Dale) Fischlein; nephew, Colby (Stormi) Fischlein; great-nephew, Zander Fischlein; great-niece, Raine Fischlein; nieces, Kendall (Carlos) Rubio and Karlie Fischlein, all of North Carolina; aunt, Dorothy Spaw of Cedar Rapids; aunt, Carolyn (Robert) Armitage, of Pleasant Hills, Pa.; aunt, Annemarie (Larry) Benson of Mooresville, Ind.; many cousins; and his beloved dog, Molly.
Erik was preceded in death by his father, John (Jack) Spaw; uncle, Richard (Dick) Spaw; grandparents, Carl and Agnes Spaw and Martin and Kathryn Stevlingson.
Erik was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes when he was nine years old, but that never stopped him from living a very active life. Erik played varsity football for Washington Highschool, raced motocross all over the Midwest and competed in stock car racing. He won multiple track championships at Hawkeye Downs Speedway and in 2009, along with his two brothers, Erik was inducted into the Hawkeye Downs Wall of Fame. Erik worked for the City of Cedar Rapids water department for 22 years.
Some of his greatest joy came from the summers jumping his jet ski on the waves of Lake Michigan and racing against the speedboats on the Cedar River. Winters were spent riding his snowmobile wherever he could. He always had a need for speed and had an incredible competitive spirit. Erik even loved competing against his sister with gravy cook off competitions while hosting Thanksgiving dinners - he loved to win at anything.
Erik lived his life to the fullest and his memory will live on forever. He is and will continue to be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.
No services are planned at this time as a Celebration of Life was held last August.
In lieu of flowers, and in honor of Erik’s dog Molly, memorial contributions may be made to the Cedar Valley Humane Society, Last Hope Animal Rescue or Cedar Rapids Animal Control and Shelter.
Online condolences may be left at www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.
