Sweeney, Joseph 'Connie'

Joseph “Connie” Sweeney, 82, of 2140 Memorial Dr. SE, died Tuesday evening, June 21, 2011. Funeral Mass: 9:30 a.m. Friday at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, by Father Christopher Podhajsky. Private family burial: St. John's Cemetery. Papich-Kuba Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

Connie is survived by his wife of 62 years, Helen; four children: Joan (Larry) Morandi, Aurora, Colo.; Larry (Deb) Sweeney, Center Point; Richard Sweeney, Monterey Park, Calif., and Dan (Sherry) Sweeney, Cedar Rapids; five grandchildren: Matt (Casey) Sweeney, Des Moines; Jenny Morandi, Aspen, Colo.; Greg (Heather) Sweeney, Kanawha; Brian Morandi, San Diego, Calif.; and Lance Corporal USMC John (Corporal USMC Jennalee) Sweeney, Des Moines; a stepgrandson, Gunnery Sgt. USMC Mike (Becky) Johnston, North Carolina; four great-grandchildren; two sisters, Betty Brummer, Hiawatha, and Mary (Jim) Nagel, Waukon; and two brothers, Gene Sweeney, Waukon, and Tom (Linda) Sweeney, Anacortes, Wash.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Hugh J. Sr. and Louise (Troendle) Sweeney; and three brothers, Hugh Jr., Jim and George Sweeney.

Connie was born Sept. 23, 1928, in rural Waukon, and moved to Cedar Rapids in 1950. He married Helen M. Pisney on Feb. 26, 1949, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids. Connie was a barber for 25 years and later retired from Rockwell Goss in 1990. He was a member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church and Cadets of St. George Branch 45, FCSLA (formerly Catholic Workman). Connie was also a former member of the Knights of Columbus.

He loved horses and dogs and owned them his entire adult life. He especially liked his dog “Billy.”

For the peaceful repose of his soul, memorials may be given for Masses.