Vandewalle, Joseph L.

UPDATED: Additional survivors  added

Joseph L. Vandewalle, 88, of 2854 13th Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, passed away Monday, Nov. 8, 2010, at Mercy Medical Center. Funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in All Saints Catholic Church. Father David O'Connor and Father Matthew Vandewalle will officiate. Burial with military honors in St. John's Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home with a wake service beginning at 5 p.m., also visitation at the church after 9:30 a.m. Thursday.

Surviving to honor his memory is his wife of 60 years, Bernadine “Bernie;” a son, Patrick (Paula) of Vinton; a daughter, Mary (Tom) Tharp of Cedar Rapids; six grandchildren, Shannon, Sean, Nichole, Derek, Amanda and Madison; four great-grandchildren, Tristen, Caleb, Morgan and Peyton; and three sisters-in-law, Arzella Vandewalle of Hastings, Neb., Monica Heitgen of Salem, S.D., and Sister Carol Anne Heitgen OSF of Imlay City, Mich.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Constantine and Mary (Brennan) Vandewalle; and four brothers, Bernard, Vincent, James and Constantine Jr.

Joseph was born April 25, 1922, in Albion, Neb. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He married Bernadine Heitgen on May 29, 1950, in Salem, S.D. He was employed by RockwellCollins in finance for 28 years, and was a contract review person for the Department of Defense, retiring in 1994. He was a member of All Saints Catholic Church. He enjoyed woodworking, listening to music, had a great sense of humor and enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, especially his grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to All Saints Catholic Church or to Hospice of Mercy.

Military honors by Marion American Legion Post No 298.

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