Hernandez, Henry

Henry Hernandez, 80, of Cedar Rapids, died Monday, March 19, 2012, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha. Funeral Mass: 9:30 a.m. Friday, March 23, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, by the Rev. Christopher Podhajsky. Visitation: 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids, with a vigil service at 6:30 p.m. Burial: Mount Calvary Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, with military honors by American Legion Moomey-Vogel Post 727.

Survivors include his sons, Dan Hernandez of Pleasant Hill, and Paul (Barbara) Hernandez of Austin, Texas; his daughter, Diane (Dirk) Thierer of Carlisle; brother, Ray Hernandez of Cedar Rapids; sisters, Inez Schrader of Cedar Rapids, and Mary Prieto of Ames; six grandchildren, Nicholas Thierer, Andrew Thierer, Keith Hernandez, Stephanie Thierer, Gabriel Hernandez and Maia Hernandez; and two special friends, Pam Hernandez and Jo Logan.

Henry was born Aug. 24, 1931, in Cedar Rapids, the son of Aniceto and Irene (Cortez) Hernandez. He graduated from McKinley High School in 1949, and also attended the University of Iowa. Henry served in the U.S. Navy from 1951 to 1953 as a radio man third class. On Oct. 27, 1956, he married Vera Solis in Moline. He worked as a technical writer for Rockwell Collins, retiring after 39 years.

He was very active member of Immaculate Conception Parish, serving on many of the church committees, as a lector and as the school athletic director for eight years. Henry also volunteered his time with the Ecumenical Community Center, including the Helping Hands Ministry and the Margaret Bock Housing Corporation.

Henry was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Vera; and two brothers, Mike and Joe Hernandez.

Memorials are suggested to the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy or Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.

Please sign the online guest book and share a memory about Henry at .

Published in The Gazette March 21, 2012.