Mahnke, John Earl 'The Key Man'

John Earl “The Key Man” Mahnke, 70, of Cedar Rapids, died Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012, at St. Luke's Hospital. A Memorial Gathering and Reception will be 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at the Cedar Terrace Community Building, 1834 Gretchen Dr. SW, Cedar Rapids. Arrangements are with Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids.

Survivors include his children, John Mahnke, James (CeCe) Mahnke, Joe Mahnke and Rebecca (Daniel) Voss, all of Cedar Rapids; special daughter, Kim (Dusty) Minor of Cedar Rapids; 24 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Jean; daughter, Marie; and a grandson, John.

John was born Jan. 29, 1942, the son of John and Rose (Welbes) Mahnke, in Marion, Iowa. He grew up in Walker, Iowa. In 1961, John was united in marriage to Regina “Jean” Robertson in Cedar Rapids. He worked as a mechanic for the streets department in Cedar Rapids and then worked as a locksmith for the Sears Key Shop for many years. John was a member of the CRCRC Radio Club.

Instead of flowers, a memorial fund has been established.

Please sign the online guest book for John at  under obituaries.

Published Nov. 16, 2012 in The Gazette