Zacek, Gene F.

Gene F. Zacek, 76, of 5309 Kesler Rd. NW, Cedar Rapids, died Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, in St. Luke's Hospital, Cedar Rapids. Services: 2 p.m. Tuesday at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids, by the Rev. Fredrich Mellberg and the Rev. Dr. Glenn Hunt. Visitation: 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home before the service. Private family burial: Linwood Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.

Survivors include his wife, Bev; three children, Lynne (Robert) Zeman of Solon, Cindy (David) Whisler of Sioux Falls, S.D., and Sherry (Ron) Renoux of Richland, Iowa; and six grandchildren, Jereme (Laura) Hardy, Jenni (Rico) Whisler Chin, Nick Whisler, Mike Whisler, Katie Whisler and Margaret (Hans) Renoux Leonard.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Eldon Zacek; sister, Clarice Zacek Petrusek; and grandson, Andy Renoux.

Gene was born Oct. 21, 1932, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the son of John and Lorraine (Wickham) Zacek. On Feb. 4, 1950, he was united in marriage to Beverly Martin in Iowa City. He was a partner in Car Colors for 33 years and previously worked for 20 years for Harper's Auto Rebuilders.

Gene was a member of Eden United Church of Christ in Cedar Rapids for 53 years and recently a member of Hope United Church of Christ in Hiawatha. He served on the Automotive Repair Board at Kirkwood and was a corporate sponsor for Relay for Life in Washington County. He enjoyed the Chicago Bears, Hawkeye wrestling and HO scale train collecting. He liked movies with Lynne, races at Hawkeye Downs with Sherry and Jefferson football with Cindy.

He was dearly loved by his wife, children and grandchildren and had many, many friends. We will miss him so much.

Memorials may be made in Gene's memory to Hope United Church of Christ, 150 Ninth Ave., Hiawatha, IA 52233, Eden United Church of Christ, 351 Eight Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404, or to a charity of the donor's choice.

Please sign the online guest book for Gene at under obituaries.