Krizan, Harold Julius

Harold Julius Krizan, 92, of Cedar Rapids, died at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown, Saturday, May 25, 2013. Services: 9:30 a.m. June 8, 2013, at Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories. A visitation will be held at the chapel at 8:30 a.m.

Harold was born Aug. 24, 1910, in Chicago, to Paul Peter Krizanowski and Julia Rose (Vesley) Krizanowski. He graduated from Lane Tech High School, Chicago, was joined in marriage April 3, 1943, in Iowa City, to Malinda Gay Lawton of Victor, Iowa. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy, May 7, 1943. He served as pharmacist mate second class on board the USS President James Monroe off the coast of Japan and walked the streets of Nagasaki a few weeks after the atomic bomb. He was honorably discharged Jan. 23, 1946. Military Honors were held previously in the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown.

Harold graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and Master of Arts Degree. Employed by the Cedar Rapids Schools for over 30 years at Washington High School and Elizabeth Bender Swimming Pool as teacher and coach, inducted into the Iowa and the National Swimming Halls of Fame, member of the First Congregational Church, CR Optimist, CR SCUBA Diving Club, Bass Masters, Ducks Unlimited, Iowa Taxidermy Hall of Fame and Coralville American Legion Post #721.

As an avid hunter, fisherman, he traveled all over North America to angle.

Survivors include five sons, Dennis Krizan of Leawood, Kan., Ken Krizan of Coralville, Timothy Krizan of Tyler, Texas, Daniel Krizan of Tillamook, Ore. and Kim Krizan of Hideway, Texas.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Helen (Krizanowski) Duguid; twin brother, Tom Krizan; and daughter, JoAnn.

Memorials may be directed to Iowa Veterans Home and First Congregational Church.

The family would like to especially thank the staff at the Iowa Veterans Home for the compassionate care of Hal.

Please leave a message for the family on the Web page under obituaries.

Published in The Gazette May 29, 2013.