May, Gerald Sylvester

Gerald Sylvester May, 88, of Cedar Rapids, passed away April 16, 2010, at Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids. Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 19, at St. Matthew Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, by the Rev. Mark Osterhaus. Visitation: 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids, with a vigil service at 6 p.m. Burial: Mount Calvary Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, following the mass.

Survivors include his two daughters, Linda May Fitzgerald of Cedar Falls and Janice (John) Chrystal of Center Point; three sons, Richard (Jeanne) May of Phoenix, Ariz., Steven (Kelly) May of Minnetonka, Minn., and Jeffrey May of Cedar Rapids; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by Rita, his wife of 56 years; his parents, George and Frances May; his brothers, Orville, Leon, Ronald and Harry; and sisters, Nita, Aileen, Mona, Doris and Clare.

Gerald was born Dec. 31, 1921, in New Albin, Iowa. He attended Loras College, was a U.S. Navy aviation radio man during World War II from 1942-1946, and graduated from the University of Iowa in 1947. He married Rita Schulte on June 30, 1947, at St. Patrick Church in Waukon, Iowa. Gerald retired as a fiscal officer from East Central Iowa Area Crime Commission.

Gerald played baseball for New Albin High School and Loras College, and was a faithful Cubs and Iowa Hawkeye fan.

A memorial fund has been established in his name.

Please sign the online guest book and share a memory about Gerald at