Hutchcroft, Junior 'Joe' Lawrence

Junior “Joe” Lawrence Hutchcroft, 89, a longtime resident of Cedar Rapids, passed away Thursday, April 11, 2013, at Linn Manor Care Center, Marion. Funeral Mass: 10 a.m. Monday, April 15, at St. Matthew Catholic Church, by the Rev. David Beckman. Visitation: 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids, with a rosary at 6 p.m. Burial: Mount Calvary Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, with military honors by American Legion Stinocher Post 460 of Solon.

Junior was born Nov. 30, 1923, in Cedar Rapids, the son of Ray and Carrie (Hemann) Hutchcroft. He graduated from Franklin High School in 1942. He joined the U.S. Army in December 1943 and was honorably discharged in January 1946. Junior was a tech sergeant 4th class and served in Northern France-Rhineland with Combat Engineers. While serving in the Army, he was awarded with four overseas bars, European, African, and Middle Eastern campaign medals, two bronze battle stars, a Good Conduct Medal, World War II victory medal, and a 30 caliber marksmanship badge.

Upon Junior's discharge, he married Bonnie Jeanne Oliphant on April 22, 1946, at St. Matthew Catholic Church. Junior and Bonnie were blessed with seven children, Jay (Sandra) Hutchcroft of Denver, Colo., Jack Hutchcroft of Marion, Mary DeShaw of Cedar Rapids, Julie Hutchcroft of Tama, Joe (Lorri) Hutchcroft of Hiawatha, Susanne (Randy) Pierce of Central City, Laureen (Kasey) Regan of Ankeny. He was also blessed with 19 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; special friends, Jim and Debra Austin; and a grandpuppy, Jake.

Junior was preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Carrie Hutchcroft; father- and mother-in-law, Fred and Birdie Oliphant; three brothers; two sisters; son-in-law, Frank DeShaw; and grandsons, Tristan Bennett and Frank DeShaw Jr.

Junior worked as a pressman for Russell's Guide for 44 years. He was a charter member of St. Matthew Catholic Church, member of the NRA, American Legion Stinocher Post 460 of Solon, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, National Wild Turkey Federation, and the VFW. Junior was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing, specializing in turkey hunting, and he also enjoyed walking through the woods hunting for morel mushrooms. He proudly passed on his love of the outdoors to his children and grandchildren as his legacy.

He will be sincerely missed by all who knew and loved him.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Sisters of Mercy, 1225 Prairie Dr. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402.

A special thank you to Hospice of Mercy and Linn Manor Care Center for their compassionate care of Junior.

Please sign the online guest book and share a memory about Junior at www.stewartbaxter.com.

Published April 13, 2013 in The Gazette