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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Obituaries
The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication on thegazette.com at 6 p.m. and in the daily edition the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Kelchen, Robert J.
Robert J. Kelchen, 76, of 917 Regent St. NE, died Thursday, May 20, 2010, at his home. Services: 11 a.m. Tuesday at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories. The Rev. Mark Osterhaus will officiate. Burial, with military rites: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may call at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday.
Survivors include three sons, Mark (Teri) of Cedar Rapids, David of Vinton and Jerry of Van Horne; one daughter, Cathy Kelchen of Cedar Rapids; and two sisters, Lila Offerman of Delaware and Carol (Lee) Thurn of Edgewood. He is also survived by four grandchildren, Robert Coleman, Lisa, Daniel and Austin Kelchen; and two great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one brother and one sister.
Bob was born July 13, 1933, in Worthington, the son of Paul and Cecelia Polfer Kelchen. He married Patricia J. Bessey on Jan. 18, 1958, in Manchester. Bob was a police officer for the city of City of Cedar Rapids for 28 years, retiring in 1989. He later worked at the Collins Credit Union for 18 years. Bob was a member of St. Matthew Catholic Church, American Legion, the Cedar Rapids and State Policeman's Protective Association as well as proudly serving in the Marines. He enjoyed square dancing, working with the deaf, antique tractors and the time he spent with his many friends and beloved family.
Memorial donations may be given to the American Heart Association in Bob's name.
Please leave a message or tribute to the Kelchen family on the Web page, under obituaries.

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