John Hawkins

JOHN PATRICK "THE HAWK" HAWKINS

Cedar Rapids

John Patrick Hawkins, known to most by "Pat" or "The Hawk," passed away unexpectedly Jan. 7, 2015.

He was born March 12, 1937, in Bremerton, Wash., to Frances "Susie" Swan and Jacob Wayne Hawkins. But for a brief stay in Alaska, he lived all of his adult life in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

He served in the United States Army from 1955 to 1958, and worked for Rapids Wholesale Equipment 30 plus years before retiring in 2005.

Pat was an avid golfer and a good one too. He was a teaching pro in his younger years before settling into a routine of golfing as much as possible, whenever possible. He was a member of the Lake Macbride Golf Club in Solon, and won numerous club championships over the years.

In 2006, Pat was inducted into the Eastern Iowa Golf Association Hall of Fame, a very prestigious honor which he was very proud of, as were we all. Many golfers aspire to make that elusive hole-in-one; Pat accomplished that on the third hole at Lake Macbride.

Pat had an uncanny ability to remember every golf hole he ever played. This ability transferred to his "off course" life as well, never forgetting a face, and never meeting someone he didn't call "friend."

Pat was predeceased by his parents and his brother, Larry, of Bremerton, Wash.

He is survived by his longtime companion, Stacy Holub of Cedar Rapids; all of Stacy's family who he loved very much; brother, Gary of Quilcene, Wash.; daughter, Monique and husband Mark of Yucaipa, Calif.; son, Devan and wife Cathleen of Running Springs, Calif.; three grandchildren, Janele and husband Clement of Napier, New Zealand, Zachari of New York, N.Y., and Dylan and wife Brissa of Yucaipa, Calif.; three great-grandchildren, Liam and Zoe of Napier, New Zealand, and Aiden of Yucaipa, Calif., and Brenda and husband Patrick of Coggon.

It also goes without saying that he is survived by more friends than can be counted.

Even though miles separated his family, they meant everything to him.

Pat requested no formal services be held, but, there will be an informal gathering at his favorite watering hole, the Break Room, on Jan. 18 at 2 p.m. and a golf outing at Macbride sometime in the spring to celebrate a life well lived.

His arrangements have been made with Murdoch Funeral Home in Marion and should friends wish to contribute to the Hawkins memorial they can do so by sending a memorial check to the funeral home or by obtaining a donor envelope available from family and close friends.