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DONALD ROBERT CONWAY

Cedar Rapids

Donald Robert Conway, 94, who hailed from Stumptown in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died peacefully Tuesday, July 27, 2021, at Hiawatha Care Center.

Mass of Christian Burial: 10 am Monday, Aug. 2, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, 1224 Fifth St. SE, Cedar Rapids, by Rev. Dennis Conway. Burial in the Cemetery of St. John with the military rituals of Cedar Valley Detachment 099 of the Marine Corps League and VFW Post 788, of which he was a life member. Visitation is 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 1, at Papich-Cuba Funeral Home East, 1228 Second St. SE, where a Marine time

Corps and VFW memorials will begin at 3:30 p.m.

Survivors include his son Daniel R. Conway and wife Paula A. of Middletown, RI; three daughters, Judith A. Lindsay and husband Alexander M. of Central City, Iowa, Cathleen S. Harrelson and husband

Ronald E. of Ely, Iowa, and Rebecca A. Stebral of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; eight grandchildren, Orion Brook Anderson of Jackson Heights, NY, Katharine Rose Conway of Middletown, RI, Lindsay Erin Blaha of Fairfax, Iowa, and Ryan Patrick Harrelson of Arizona, Anna Lindsay and Grace Lindsay of Central City, Iowa, Hannah Jo Stebral and Mallory Ann Stebral of Shueyville, Iowa; five stepgrandchildren, Farrell (Kluth) Donovan and wife Daniel IV of Portsmouth, RI, Joel Kluth of Newport, RI, Kyle Kluth and wife Ashley of Newport, RI, Sara Lindsay DeCesare and wife Christopher of Chepachet, RI, and Christy Lindsay Ross and husband Eric of South Kingston, RI; five great -grandchildren and eight great -grandchildren; and his sister -in -law Shirley Valenta of Catonsville, Md.

Donald was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Tillie Conway; wife, Vera (Valenta); son, David William Conway; brother, James Conway; and brother -in -law, Milton Frank Valenta of Catonsville, Md.;

Donald was born June 23, 1927, in Cedar Rapids, the son of Robert and Matilda (Shramek) Conway. He graduated from Wilson High School. Donald married Vera Rose Valenta on June 24, 1950, in St. Louis. Wenceslaus Church in Cedar Rapids. Don was an altar boy there for the 6 am Latin Mass when the rosary and sermons were in Czech.

In his early years, Don was a Cub Scout, Cub Master, Eagle Scout and achieved the Order of the Arrow. He went on to become a Scoutmaster.

Don joined the U.S. Marines in his final year of High School and served in World War II with the 3rd Division Fleet Marine Force. First and foremost, he was a Sailor. Don is part of what is recognized as the Greatest Generation. He was a life member of VFW Post 788, and the Cedar Valley Detachment of the Marine Corps League. He is a Pedigreed Devil Dog of the Military Order of Devil Dogs.

Don boasted of being the Marine Corps League Rifle detail bugler for military services, played the resounding, emphasized 24 Taps record, which completed the military funeral ceremony.

After the Marines, Don graduated from Purdue University in 1950 with a mechanical engineering degree and a minor in math. He is a member of Pi Tau Sigma, the National Mechanical Engineering Scholastic Honorary Society, and a member of the Purdue President’s Council.

Don began his career as a service engineer, and later became a salesman and president of Universal Engineering, Corp. (Crusher HQ) in Cedar Rapids, and then CEO of parent company Pettibone, Inc. in Chicago. He is the chairman of the Manufacturers Division, National Limestone Producers Crushing Stone Association, a member of the Sand and Gravel Association and Department of Commerce Export Council.

He and his wife Vera are Charter Members of the TM Sinclair Society, United Way of East Central Iowa’s first leadership society. He is a 50 year member of the Cedar Rapids Country Club.

For Don, the pecking order is God, the nation, the United States Marine Corps and family!

In front of the house, he is the Honorary Mayor of a block of 25th Ave. SW in Cedar Rapids (J to Third Street), where his family home has been for 70 years.

Don encouraged everyone who knew him with his words, “In life there are only challenges and opportunities,” and when asked how he is, the positive answer is always “Perfect!”. Her family and friends will lovingly seek her out, because she is always thinking of others, giving generously and kindly to many charitable and community organizations under the name, “Anonymous.”

She loves putting her heart and soul into her work as she travels the world for 36 years, retiring at 59 in 1986. But her true purpose in life is to nurture and inspire her children. son. They were nurtured with hugs and love and taught to love their country, the greatest nation in the world, the United States of America. On the day of his death, he lived fully and was probably a farmer at heart, plowing the land and harvesting crops on the family farm with his beloved farmer friends, Otto and Florence Louvar.

The family is grateful for the loving support provided by the team at Hiawatha Care Center under the leadership of Kent Walton, and for the compassionate care provided by Dr. Mary Anne Nelson.

Memorial contributions can be made to the National Czech and Slovak Museum & Library or Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids or to a charity chosen by the donor.

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