VANGEN, Roy Carlton 1932-2000

VANGEN, LARSON, SMITH, KOKOSKA, VOPALKA, SOPOUSEK, WACHTER, GEMILERE, ILTEN, BAIRD, LENTH

Posted By: Paul Moritz (deceased)
Date: 12/20/2010 at 11:24:21

Roy Carlton Vangen, 68, Cedar Rapids, died Wed., Oct. 18, 2000, at Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids, following a lengthy illness.
Services were held Mon., Oct. 23, at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Cedar Rapids, under the direction of Rev. Alfred Kaupins. Entombment with military rites was at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, Cedar Rapids. Rites were performed by American Legion Hanford Post No. 5.
Roy was born May 30, 1932, in Waukon, the son of Edgar and Mildred Larson Vangen. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict. He was employed for forty one and a half years as a machinist and fleet driver for Rockwell Collins. Roy married Sandra K. Kokoska on May 3, 1981, in Las Vegas, NV. Following his retirement, he was a courtesy driver for Allen Motor Co. Roy held many offices in the American Legion; he was the first Commander to serve two terms for the American Legion baseball program.
Roy is survived by his wife, Sandra; four sons, Steven (Tammy) Vangen and daughter, Ashley, of Marion; Robert Vangen, Scottsdale, AZ; Eric (Carla) Vangen and children, Beau, Galvin, Steven and Gracie, Cedar Rapids; and Charles Vopalka Jr., Alburuerque, NM, and daughter, Anne Sopousek, Cedar Rapids; two daughters, Sandra Vopalka, Cedar Rapids; Debra (Rodney) Wachter, and children, Calvron, Clayton and Colton, Springfield, TN; four sisters, Bernice (Jimmy) Gemilere, Marion; Ethel (Lee) Ilten, Eileen Baird, and Eldean (Dick) Lenth, all of Cedar Rapids; a brother, Roland (Dorothy), also of Cedar Rapids; and many loving nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Irvin; a sister Norma Jean; former wife, Jo Ann (Smith) Vangen; and a brother-in-law, Robert Baird.
Roy touched the lives of many through his deep devotion to God, his strong committment to his family and friends, and his memorable smile. He will live on in his families' hearts as their guardian angel.
A Roy Vangen Memorial Fund has been established.
Cedar Memorial Funeral Home of Cedar Rapids assisted the family.

Oct. 25, 2000, Waukon, IA newspaper