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Gerald Bodensteiner
GERALD A. BODENSTEINER
Cedar Rapids
Gerald A. Bodensteiner, 73, of Cedar Rapids, died Thursday, June 2, 2016, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha from pancreatic and bone cancer with his family at his side. Funeral Mass: 10 a.m. Monday at St. Pius X Catholic Church. Burial: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. A visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home.
Survivors include his wife, Diana L. Bodensteiner; his children, Gregory (Jennifer) Bodensteiner of Norwalk, Rachelle (Jordon) O'Leary of Cedar Rapids and Jennifer (James) Dyszkiewicz of South Bend, Ind.; his grandchildren, Kelsey and Kara Bodensteiner, Samuel and Gabriel Hester, and Dylan Brecht and Jordan Dyszkiewicz; his siblings, Clarinda Thuente of Sterling, Ill., Virgil Bodensteiner of McKinley, Texas, Arlene Stendel of Castalia, Dale Bodensteiner of Ossian, Robert Bodensteiner of Elkader, Lyle Bodensteiner of Waukon and Keith Bodensteiner of Ossian.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Cornell and Leo Bodensteiner.
Gerald was born Feb. 11, 1943, in Castalia, Iowa, the son of Gregory and Agnes (Balk) Bodensteiner. Gerald was raised on the family farm and after graduating from De Sales Catholic High School in Ossian, he worked on a farm for two years. In 1963, Gerald joined the Navy, where he received electronics training. He served two tours during the Vietnam War on aircraft carriers in the Philippines. After serving his country Gerald returned to the states beginning his career in computers and electronics. He started with Collins Radio in 1967, then moved on to work for Burroughs Corporation/Unisys in 1971. Gerald took a break from computers from 1989 to 1992 to work at Mike McGrath auto dealership because of his love for cars. Gerald continued his computer career with United Fire and Casualty in 1992, retiring after 16 years in 2008.
Jerry married Diana Hillers on Feb. 24, 1968, after being set up on a blind date in 1965. He was a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church, where he was an active member and sang in the choir.
Jerry always was willing to help anyone with his incredible ability to fix about anything, except for a balloon.
Jerry, a loving husband, father and grandfather, will be dearly missed.
Please leave a message for the family on the website www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.
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