Lawrence Basile

LAWRENCE E. BASILE

Cedar Rapids

Lawrence E. Basile, 70, family man and consummate collector of restaurant menus, varied lengths of crown molding and truly loyal friends, died Friday, June 17, 2016, at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids after a long battle with lung cancer. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 23, at First Presbyterian Church, 310 Fifth St. SE, Cedar Rapids. A celebration of Larry's life will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, June 24, at the church officiated by the Rev. Heather Hayes. Entrusted with the arrangements is Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home.

Larry was born Sept. 10, 1945, at Loretto Hospital in Chicago, to Lawrence G. and Dorothy (LaSalle) Basile. After graduating from St. Mel High School, Larry received his B.A. in communication arts from St. Mary's College in Winona, Minn., and completed his M.A. at Saint Louis University in theater arts. Larry married Catherine Leytze on Dec. 18, 1982 in Independence. Together, they raised their children, Anna and Nick, in Cedar Rapids, where Larry worked in advertising for Hi-Way Equipment Co. until 1996.

Larry lived his life with enthusiasm and gusto and was extremely proud of his Italian heritage. He was known to declare, "You can't enter an Italian home without an appetite," while serving up a heaping plate. He was generous with his time and talents, often volunteering to benefit youth in Cedar Rapids. He was a founding member of the Tuesday Evening Optimist Club and the Saturday Morning Breakfast Boys. Larry enjoyed spending time at the family's place on the Mississippi River, hosting guests for dinner parties, playing bocce with friends and neighbors, rooting for the Hawkeyes, Bears and Cubs, and watching Westerns into the wee hours of the morning. He will be remembered as a compassionate surrogate father-figure, a teller of very long jokes and a lover of savory sauces.

Larry is survived by his wife. Catherine; children and spouses. Anna and Kyle Wehner of Iowa City, Nick and Jordan Basile of San Francisco, Christopher Basile of Melrose Park, Ill., and Rose Ellen Hovey of LaGrange, Ill.; his new grandbaby, the apple of his eye, Miriam Wehner; and siblings, Bonnie (Tom) Graham of Addison, Ill., and Ron (Christine) Basile of Darien, Ill.

Preceding Larry in death were his parents and his beloved uncle, Cal Basile.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Boys and Girls Club of Cedar Rapids, Tanager Place or St. Jude's Children's Hospital.

His family would like to thank Dr. Fusselman and the PCI oncology nurses, Dr. Lee and his staff at Mercy Medical Center, Dr. Melanie Stahlberg and her staff, and Sue Rowbotham and her colleagues at UnityPoint Hospice.

Online condolences may be conveyed at www.cedarmemorial.com.