Paul "Mike" Garner
September 29, 1953 — November 9, 2023
Paul “Mike” Garner, 70, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died Thursday, November 9, 2023. A visitation will be held from 4 - 7 p.m. on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Cedar Rapids. A memorial service will take place at 11 a.m. on Thursday, November 16, 2023, at the funeral home. Burial with Military Honors will follow at Linwood Cemetery in Cedar Rapids.
Mike was born September 29, 1953, in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, the son of Paul G. and Ferna M. (Lingenfelter) Garner. He graduated from Jefferson High School, Class of 1971. Mike served in the United States Navy on the USS Hancock from 1972-75 during the Vietnam Era. He was united in marriage to Kandace Kroupa on April 14, 1973, at St. Jude Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids. Mike worked for Local 125 Plumbers and Pipefitters until his retirement in 2013. He was a member of the Izaak Walton League, VFW Post #788, the Iowa River Pin Oaks chapter of Ducks Unlimited, where he served as chairman. Mike was a member of Local 125 Plumbers and Pipefitters and was an instructor at the Training Center.
Mike loved to tell a good joke and make people smile. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, finding morel mushrooms, and playing the slots at the casino. Mike’s pride and joy in life were his children and grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Kandace Garner of Cedar Rapids; daughter, Karey (Brian) Dirks of Atkins, Iowa; son, Quintin (Mary) Garner of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, Kayley, Jacob, and Kate Dirks, Gabe and Sam Garner, all of Cedar Rapids; sister, Sue (Bob) Huber of Cedar Falls, Iowa; brother, Tim Garner (Heather Sanders) of Ames, Iowa; sisters-in-law, Gail (Mark) Loeffler of Cedar Rapids and Lisa (John) Panek of Polk City, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Ferna Garner; in-laws, Leonard and Patricia Kroupa; a brother in infancy, Jonathan; and sister-in-law, Nancy Hampshire.
Mike was born September 29, 1953, in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, the son of Paul G. and Ferna M. (Lingenfelter) Garner. He graduated from Jefferson High School, Class of 1971. Mike served in the United States Navy on the USS Hancock from 1972-75 during the Vietnam Era. He was united in marriage to Kandace Kroupa on April 14, 1973, at St. Jude Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids. Mike worked for Local 125 Plumbers and Pipefitters until his retirement in 2013. He was a member of the Izaak Walton League, VFW Post #788, the Iowa River Pin Oaks chapter of Ducks Unlimited, where he served as chairman. Mike was a member of Local 125 Plumbers and Pipefitters and was an instructor at the Training Center.
Mike loved to tell a good joke and make people smile. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, finding morel mushrooms, and playing the slots at the casino. Mike’s pride and joy in life were his children and grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Kandace Garner of Cedar Rapids; daughter, Karey (Brian) Dirks of Atkins, Iowa; son, Quintin (Mary) Garner of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, Kayley, Jacob, and Kate Dirks, Gabe and Sam Garner, all of Cedar Rapids; sister, Sue (Bob) Huber of Cedar Falls, Iowa; brother, Tim Garner (Heather Sanders) of Ames, Iowa; sisters-in-law, Gail (Mark) Loeffler of Cedar Rapids and Lisa (John) Panek of Polk City, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Ferna Garner; in-laws, Leonard and Patricia Kroupa; a brother in infancy, Jonathan; and sister-in-law, Nancy Hampshire.
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