Yanecek, Thomas 'Tom' Clifford

Thomas “Tom” Clifford Yanecek, 61, of Cedar Rapids, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer at the Iowa City Veterans Affairs Medical Center on Oct. 29, 2010, surrounded by his loving family. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 2, at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories. The Rev. Jim Bonewald of Knox Presbyterian Church will officiate. Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. Burial will take place at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Military honors by VFW Post 788.

He is survived by his wife, Jan of Cedar Rapids; mother, Dorothy of Cedar Rapids; stepsons, Brian Steadman (Jennifer) of Cedar Rapids and Aaron Steadman of Maryville, Tenn.; a brother, John Yanecek (Arlene) of Vinton; a sister, Deb Rogers of Cedar Rapids; and three granddaughters, Kristy and Jessica Alexander of Cedar Rapids and Summer Steadman of Maryville, Tenn.

Tom was born on Christmas Day 1948 to Clayton and Dorothy (Baker) Yanecek. He was a 1967 graduate of Washington High School in Cedar Rapids. He was a member of the United States Air Force from 1967 to 1971, serving in Vietnam as a K9 handler, 1969-1970. On March 28, 1973, he married Jan Wayland.

Tom was one of the first Cedar Rapids Reserve Police Officers. He also worked at P & H Harnischfeger, Goss, and Terex in Cedar Rapids. He was a life member of Patrick J. Shanahan VFW Post 788, where he served as commander for 3 1/2 years, and was a member of the Elite Color Guard. He was a member of Pekomy American Legion Post 572 in Fairfax and La Societie 40/8, Voiture 1305 of Linn County and AMVETS Post 6 in Cedar Rapids. He was a member of Knox Presbyterian Church.

Tom was an avid hunter and fisherman, and loved camping and telling jokes.

A luncheon following the services will be held at VFW Post 788, 3420 Southgate Pl. SW, Cedar Rapids.

Memorials may be made to VFW Post 788.

Please leave a message, tribute, or memory to Tom's family on the webpage  under obituaries.