116 3rd St SE
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 on thegazette.com at 6 p.m. and in the daily edition the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
Thomas Birr
THOMAS G. BIRR
Cedar Rapids
Thomas G. Birr, 82, of Cedar Rapids, died Sunday, July 17, 2016, at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids. Funeral service: 11 a.m. Thursday, July 21, at Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories with visitation one hour before the service. Burial: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery with military honors.
Survivors include his two sons, Jeff Birr of Mount Vernon and John (Vickie) Birr of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; two daughters, Julia O'Niell of Tamarac, Fla., and Kim Birr of Cedar Rapids; four grandchildren, Miranda McAuliffe, Catherin (Roger) Pittman, Andrew Birr and Kim Birr; three great-grandchildren, Juliana Bascom, Gabriella Pittman and Tristin Pittman; sister, Pat Lopez; brother, Jim Birr; and many loving and loved relatives through his marriage to Joan.
He was preceded in death by his wife, parents and siblings.
Born Sept. 2, 1933, the son of Clarence and Cora (Bassett) Birr, in Racine, Wis., he arrived in Cedar Rapids in 1948. After graduation from Coe College, he married Joan Masek on Sept. 2, 1955. Then they went off to pilot training. During his 27 year Air Force career, he served as instructor pilot and command pilot in various transport and training aircraft, including single engine jets. Multiple assignments in the education career field allowed him to teach in the classroom as well as in the cockpit. Faculty positions included the Air War College and the Air Force Special Operations School. His combat duty, in 1964-65, included several hundred assault transport missions in Vietnam, earning him the Air Medal with eight Oak Leaf Clusters and other medals. A second career led him to Boca Raton, Fla., in 1981, where he served on the staff of Spanish River Church and Christian School to oversee the initial phases of a 20-acre expansion program. Returning to Cedar Rapids in 1988, he joined and then he and his wife, Joan, acquired ownership of Preferred Property Management.
Being spiritually reborn at age 40, Tom knew the special joy that is experienced when we return to God and receive his grace in spite of our sins. Tom is with his Savior and Lord now, but we miss him.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Lord's work where you worship or where you now will begin to worship.
Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.
Daily Newsletters