Long, Anthony Bernard 'Tony'

Anthony Bernard “Tony” Long, 55, of Cedar Rapids, entered into the presence of Jesus on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010. Celebration of Life: 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 7, at Cedar Valley Bible Church, by the Rev. Tom Fogle. Arrangements are entrusted to the Cremation Society of Eastern Iowa.

 Survivors include wife, Joni; children, Leslie (Matt) Anderson of Cedar Rapids, Ashley (Nick) Rocca of Mount Vernon, Jenny (Adam) Landis of Marion and Luke Long at home; parents, Barney and Helen Long of Ottumwa; siblings, Judy (Ron) Amos of Ottumwa, Stacie (Jim) Berger of Ankeny, Kelly (Mark) James of Mount Pleasant, Vincent (Michelle) Long of Missouri and Erin (Scott) Zaputil of Cedar Rapids; and grandchildren, Nolan and Reese Anderson and Brooke Rocca. 

 Tony was born Nov. 30, 1954, in Ottumwa. He graduated from Ottumwa High School in 1974. Tony married Joni McElroy on Sept. 2, 1979. He worked for the Burlington Northern Railroad for 10 years and then worked for Alliant Energy as a lineman for 25 years, retiring Dec. 1, 2009. He deeply loved his fellow co-workers and his job. 

Tony loved his church family at Cedar Valley Bible Church and enjoyed serving. One of his greatest joys was attending his children's sporting events. Tony's passions were fishing with his buddies and Iowa wrestling. 

 Tony was a loving husband and father. Papa will be missed by his grandchildren.

 The family requests no flowers. A memorial fund has been established for the Cedar Valley Christian School, 3636 Cottage Grove Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403.

 Please leave a tribute or memory for the family on the Web page at under obituaries.