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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Obituaries
The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication online and in the newspaper the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
Michael “Rat” Carolan
Michael “Rat” Carolan
Cedar Rapids
Michael “Rat” Carolan, 79, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away Friday, Jan. 20, 2023, at home. Family and friends will gather for a Celebration of Life from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids, and will continue afterwards until 6 p.m. at 2nd Avenue Corner Pocket, 609 2nd Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids.
Mike was born to Paul and Agnes Carolan on May 20, 1943, in Decorah, Iowa. He attended high school in Decorah and Cedar Rapids where he graduated from St. Patrick’s Catholic School. He was drafted to the Army in 1964, and was honorably discharged in 1970.
Mike was married to Sandy Rasmussen on Jan. 25, 1969. They would have celebrated their 54-year anniversary this year, she lost the bet on that one. Mike worked for Iowa Manufacturing for several years and then retired from the Laborers Union Local 43.
Mike was an avid pool player and well-known amongst the entire Iowa pool community. Mike would never pass up a match and always had a one-liner for you because he knew he was going to win. A card game, a sports event, or whatever you could come up, with he was always willing to make a bet. Mike was also very well-known for showing up to any event with pumpkin bars and other treats that he would con his wife into making for him.
Survivors include his wife, Sandy; siblings, Mary (Al) Kenney of Colorado, Bonnie Mincy of Cedar Rapids and Linda Jordan of Cedar Rapids; sisters-in-law, Linda Carolan of Solon, Diane Brola of Nevada, Becky Fester of Cedar Rapids and Raejeanne Swore of Cedar Rapids; brothers-in-law, Irwin (Cathy) Rasmussen of Waterloo and Dick (Mary) Rasmussen of Cedar Rapids; and many nieces and nephews
Mike was reunited in death with his nephew, Shannon Rasmussen, whom he raised like a son and was his best friend. He also was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Jim and Tom Carolan; and sisters, Sally Comried and Pat Berg.
Memorials may be directed to his wife, Sandy.
Please share your support and memories with Mike’s family on his Tribute Wall at www.stewartbaxter.com under Obituaries.
