Leo Peiffer

LEO CLEMENT PEIFFER

Cedar Rapids

Leo Clement Peiffer, 88, prominent Cedar Rapids architect, passed away Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017, at Hallmar Care Center.

He was born in October 1928 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the son of Leo P. and Genevieve Mikesh Peiffer. Leo achieved Eagle Scout. He graduated from Franklin High School and then attended Iowa State College, where he received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in architecture. He received a full college scholarship for winning the National Fisher Body Craftsman Guild's Napoleonic Coach competition in 1946. He was active while at Iowa State as the "Stars Over Veisha" director in 1949 and as a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.

Leo served in the Army during the Korean War and then returned to Cedar Rapids to begin his career as an architect and soon started his own firm, Leo C. Peiffer and Associates. His career spanned many decades and his building projects are found all over the area. He designed many residences, schools, churches and public buildings. Some of the more prominent are the Five Seasons Center and Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Hotel (now the U.S. Celluar Center/DoubleTree), the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, Cedar Memorial Funeral Home, All Saints, St. Pius and other Catholic churches, 111 Cottage Grove condominiums, Allen Motor Co. (currently McGrath), Linn County Home, Linn County Public Health building, Veterans Memorial Stadium and Vernon Design Center, where his architectural office was located.

Leo was active in the community. He was a member of the Downtown Rotary Club, longtime member and previous president of the All Iowa Fair Board, Cedar Rapids Board of Review and many other organizations.

He loved music, the circus, stock car racing, fireworks and anything Disney. His family has many wonderful memories of trips with him to visit Mickey! One of his favorite hobbies was shooting off fireworks. He was a licensed pyrotechnician and did the shows at Elmcrest Country Club, downtown Cedar Rapids, and many shows for baseball games at Veterans Memorial Stadium over the years.

Leo was a perfectionist and a craftsman. He could build just about anything! He was well-known for his mid-century modern designs.

He is survived by his daughter, Mary Ann Weems (R. Mark) of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, Jacob (Trisha) Weems of Center Point, Daniel Weems and Austin Weems of St. Louis, Mo., and Rachel Perez (Andrew) of Cedar Rapids; and eight great-grandchildren, Asher, Jaella, Salem, Adalai, Titus, Malachi and Havilah Weems and Lillian Perez. He also is survived by his former wife, Sara Sorensen of Cedar Rapids, and cousin, Robert C. Mikesh of Silver Springs, Md.

A Celebration of Life memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, at Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories, with Father John R. Flaherty of All Saints Catholic Church officiating. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20, at Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories Stateroom.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Hallmar and Hospice of Mercy for their excellent care.

Memorial donations may be made to All Saints Catholic Church, the Czech Museum or Hospice of Mercy.

Online condolences may be left at www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.