Gilbert Saldana

GILBERT JOSEPH SALDANA

Cedar Rapids

Gilbert Joseph Saldana, 89, of Cedar Rapids, died Monday, April 4, 2016. Funeral Mass: 10 a.m. Friday, April 8, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, by the Rev. Ivan Nienhaus. Visitation: 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids, with a vigil service beginning at 5 p.m. Burial with military honors is at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.

Survivors include his wife, Evelyn; children, Christina Saldana of Cedar Rapids and Vincent Saldana of Iowa City; grandson, Jordan Gale of Iowa City; siblings, Josephine Delbridge of Cedar Rapids, Luci Heslop of Cedar Rapids and Leo Lopez of San Francisco; and many nieces and nephews.

Gilbert was born May 15, 1926, in Joliet, Ill., the son of Joseph and Rafaela (Juarez) Saldana. He served in the U.S. Army and was honored to take the Honor Flight just a few years ago. On June 11, 1955, he married Evelyn Romero in Cedar Rapids. Gilbert worked for 27 years as a machine shop operator for Iowa Manufacturing and Link Belt. He was a member of Knights of Columbus Council 909, American Legion Post 298 and VFW Post 788. Gilbert was an avid fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes and Chicago Cubs. He will be remembered for his kindness, generosity and love for his family.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Edmund Saldana; and sister, Caroline Lopez.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

Please share your support and memories with Gilbert's family on his tribute wall at www.stewartbaxter.com under obituaries.