Donald Robert Conway

CONWAY, KINDSAY, HARRELSON, STEBRAL, ANDERSON, BLAHA, LINDSAY, DONOVAN, KLUTH, DECESARE, ROSS, VALENTA, SHRAMEK

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 8/1/2021 at 07:11:19

Donald Robert Conway, 94, originally of Stumptown in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died peacefully Tuesday, July 27, 2021, at the Hiawatha Care Center.

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

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

Survivors include his son, Daniel R. Conway and wife Paula A. of Middletown, R.I.; 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, N.Y., Katharine Rose Conway of Middletown, R.I., 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 husband Daniel IV of Portsmouth, R.I., Joel Kluth of Newport, R.I., Kyle Kluth and wife Ashley of Newport, R.I., Sara Lindsay DeCesare and husband Christopher of Chepachet, R.I., and Christy Lindsay Ross and husband Eric of South Kingston, R.I.; five great-grandchildren and eight step-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 on June 23, 1927, in Cedar Rapids, the son of Robert and Matilda (Shramek) Conway. He was a graduate of Wilson High School. Donald married Vera Rose Valenta on June 24, 1950, at St. Wenceslaus Church in Cedar Rapids. Don was an altar boy there for the 6 a.m. 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 during his last year in High School and served in World War II with the 3rd Division Fleet Marine Force. First and foremost, he was a Marine. Don was part of what has become known as the Greatest Generation. He was a life member of VFW Post 788, and the Cedar Valley Detachment of the Marine Corps League. He was a Pedigreed Devil Dog of the Military Order of Devil Dogs.

Don took great pride in being the bugler with the Marine Corps League Rifle Detail for military services, playing the resounding, emphatic 24 notes of Taps, which completes a military funeral ceremony.

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

Don started 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 was chairman of the Manufacturers Division, National Limestone Producers Crushed Stone Association, a member of the Sand and Gravel Association and the Department of Commerce Export Council.

He and his wife Vera were Charter Members of the T.M. Sinclair Society, United Way of East Central Iowa's first leadership society. He was a 50-year member of the Cedar Rapids Country Club.

To Don, the pecking order was God, country, the United States Marine Corps and family!

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

Don inspired all who knew him with his sayings, "In life there are only challenges and opportunities," and when asked how he was, the positive answer was always "Perfect!". His family and friends will lovingly miss him, for he always thought of others first, contributing generously and graciously to many charitable and community organizations under the name, "Anonymous."

He loved putting his heart and soul into his work as he traveled all over the world for 36 years, retiring at 59 in 1986. But his real life goal was caring for and inspiring his children. They were nurtured with hugs and love and taught to love their country, the greatest country in the world, the United States of America. To the day of his death, he lived life to the fullest and probably was a farmer at heart, tilling the soil and harvesting the crops on the family farm with his dear farmer friends, Otto and Florence Louvar.

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

Memorial contributions may be given to the National Czech and Slovak Museum & Library or Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids or to a charity of the donor's choice.