David Packard
April 28, 1945 — September 2, 2011
David George Packard, 66, of Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, died Friday, Sept. 2, 2011, at Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids. Arrangements with Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids. Graveside service: 10 a.m. Sept. 29, 2011 at Linwood Cemetery.
Please sign the online guest book for David at www.murdochfuneralhome.com .
David was a member of Calvin-Sinclair Presbyterian Church.
David was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Mary Packard and Diane Zukow, his partner, Van Stewart; and many friends and relatives.
Survivors include his beloved dog, Ginger; a sister, Debbie Thayer of Cedar Rapids; a nephew, Phil Zukow of Longview, Wash.; numerous cousins, including Charlene Flach of Clearwater, Fla., Jan (Duane) Hinrichs, Jackie (Chuck) Pollock, Sheryl Pazour and Sharon (Tim) Hangartner of Cedar Rapids, Mike (Lisa) Pazour and sons Michael and Derek, and Deb (Dell) Law of Solon, Doreen Cook and her children Tim and Elissa of Marion, and Martha Serbousek of Coggon; many dear friends, including James Dooley of San Diego, Calif., Susan Millar of Cedar Rapids and Mickey Miller of Mount Vernon; and David’s second family, Mary and Charlie Schropp, their sons A.J. and Matthew of Oxford, and the entire Harney family.
David was born April 28, 1945, son of William and Libbie (Pazour) Packard in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. After graduating from Cedar Rapids Washington High School, he earned a communications degree from the University of Iowa, as well as an English degree with physical education minor from Long Beach State College and held secondary teaching credentials from both Iowa and California.
David worked for Parsons Corporation in Pasadena, Calif., from 1976 to 1986. After returning to Iowa, he became deeply involved in HIV care, prevention and education, serving as executive director at Rapids AIDS Project 1992 to 2000, then in a similar role at Iowa Center for AIDS Resources and Education 2000 to 2003. In 2004, he trained to be a nurses aide and provided care to terminally ill patients at Iowa City Hospice 2005 to 2010. He volunteered with numerous health-related organizations as well as Legion Arts/CSPS. Throughout his life, David worked tirelessly for gay rights.
David was a generous, caring soul who rather than pursue wealth and fame, chose to use his talents simply to help others — raising funds for community resources, educating the public about critical issues and providing friendship and support to those in need.
In the book “Humanity in Verse,” which David self-published as a fundraising project for HIV/AIDS services, he explained the source of his profound mission in life: “Because of Van, I am more loving, accepting, sincere and hopeful than I was before. I have learned to love and accept myself totally. And because of Van, I have experienced the humanity in myself and others.”
Family and friends are invited to a memorial celebration of David’s life at CSPS, 1103 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids, at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29.
Please sign the online guest book for David at www.murdochfuneralhome.com .
David was a member of Calvin-Sinclair Presbyterian Church.
David was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Mary Packard and Diane Zukow, his partner, Van Stewart; and many friends and relatives.
Survivors include his beloved dog, Ginger; a sister, Debbie Thayer of Cedar Rapids; a nephew, Phil Zukow of Longview, Wash.; numerous cousins, including Charlene Flach of Clearwater, Fla., Jan (Duane) Hinrichs, Jackie (Chuck) Pollock, Sheryl Pazour and Sharon (Tim) Hangartner of Cedar Rapids, Mike (Lisa) Pazour and sons Michael and Derek, and Deb (Dell) Law of Solon, Doreen Cook and her children Tim and Elissa of Marion, and Martha Serbousek of Coggon; many dear friends, including James Dooley of San Diego, Calif., Susan Millar of Cedar Rapids and Mickey Miller of Mount Vernon; and David’s second family, Mary and Charlie Schropp, their sons A.J. and Matthew of Oxford, and the entire Harney family.
David was born April 28, 1945, son of William and Libbie (Pazour) Packard in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. After graduating from Cedar Rapids Washington High School, he earned a communications degree from the University of Iowa, as well as an English degree with physical education minor from Long Beach State College and held secondary teaching credentials from both Iowa and California.
David worked for Parsons Corporation in Pasadena, Calif., from 1976 to 1986. After returning to Iowa, he became deeply involved in HIV care, prevention and education, serving as executive director at Rapids AIDS Project 1992 to 2000, then in a similar role at Iowa Center for AIDS Resources and Education 2000 to 2003. In 2004, he trained to be a nurses aide and provided care to terminally ill patients at Iowa City Hospice 2005 to 2010. He volunteered with numerous health-related organizations as well as Legion Arts/CSPS. Throughout his life, David worked tirelessly for gay rights.
David was a generous, caring soul who rather than pursue wealth and fame, chose to use his talents simply to help others — raising funds for community resources, educating the public about critical issues and providing friendship and support to those in need.
In the book “Humanity in Verse,” which David self-published as a fundraising project for HIV/AIDS services, he explained the source of his profound mission in life: “Because of Van, I am more loving, accepting, sincere and hopeful than I was before. I have learned to love and accept myself totally. And because of Van, I have experienced the humanity in myself and others.”
Family and friends are invited to a memorial celebration of David’s life at CSPS, 1103 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids, at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29.
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