Erusha, Robert Cletus

Robert Cletus Erusha, 85, of Cedar Rapids (formerly of Walford), died suddenly Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, at Mercy Medical Center. Funeral Mass: 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Hiawatha, by the Rev. Dustin Vu. Burial: St. John Cemetery. A vigil service will be Tuesday at 7 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, where friends may visit from 3 until 8 p.m. Friends may also visit at the church Wednesday after 9 a.m. until the start of service. Military service provided by VFW Post 788. Teahen Funeral Home is serving the family.

He was the rock and patriarch of his family, and is survived by his wife of 62 years, Arlene; his seven children, Gail (Russell) Scott of Cambridge, Dr. James (Denise) Erusha of Cedar Rapids, Vicky (John) Garnsey of Vail, Colo., Bruce (Lorrie) Erusha of Cedar Rapids, Kimberly Erusha (John Kunnert) of Basking Ridge, N.J., Robert II (Ann) Erusha of St. Louis, Mo., and Amy (Steve) Cox of Doylestown, Pa.; 16 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; brother, Donald (Rita) Erusha; sisters, Cordelia (Jack) Cosgrove and Dolores Kaiden; and brother-in-law, Robert Banse.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Milver C. and Alma Erusha.

Born July 10, 1924, in Walford, Iowa, to Milver C. and Alma R. (Schumacher) Erusha, he attended school in Walford and one year at Loras College before joining the Marines. He married Arlene Svoboda on Aug. 5, 1947, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Walford, living in Walford before moving to Cedar Rapids in 1993.

Robert served in the 4th Marine Division during World War II and was directly involved in the battles at Roi-Namur, Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima. He actively attended their annual reunions and volunteered on the audit committee of the 4th Marine Division Association.

He worked at Rapids Equipment Co. in Cedar Rapids and, in 1950, began a 50-year association with Farmers Savings Bank, Walford, retiring in 1998, and then continued as chairman of the board.

He was a member and on the board of directors at Chelsea Savings Bank and Farmers Savings Bank. He was a founding member and director of Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Amana. Robert also was a member of the Heritage Society of the Xavier Foundation; past member, Xavier Foundation Board; member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, and a member of the St. Elizabeth Finance Committee. He was a former member of the board of trustees at Mount Mercy College. The Xavier High School softball field was dedicated in his honor in June 2000. Robert was inducted in the Xavier Hall of Fame in 2008. He was honored as an outstanding supporting contributor and Outstanding Individual Philanthropist, 2003, for Eastern Iowa.

Robert was a member of the Fairfax American Legion Post and VFW Post 788, Cedar Rapids. His favorite activities included his cabin, playing Euchre, attending Xavier High School events (especially softball), hunting and fishing. His children and grandchildren frequently turned to him for his abilities to fix anything.

Online condolences may be left for the family at

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Xavier Foundation at Xavier High School or St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton Catholic Church, Hiawatha.