Robert D. Crawford, 83, of Cedar Rapids, died early Saturday, January 21, 2017 at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha following a brief illness.

Funeral Mass: 10:30 A.M. Saturday at Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church by Father Christopher Podhajsky. Burial: Czech National Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 7 P.M. Friday at Papich-Kuba Funeral Home East, 1228 2nd Street S.E., where a vigil service begins at 6:30 P.M.

Surviving Robert are two daughters, Mary Jo Crawford, Cedar Rapids and Sharon Fitzgerald, Fort Dodge; and four grandchildren, Derek and Matthew Crawford, Cedar Rapids, Jimmy Fitzgerald, Ames and Maggie Fitzgerald, Fort Dodge.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce; son-in-law, Jim Fitzgerald; parents, Fred and Wilma (McNutt) Crawford; brothers, Russ and Ray Crawford and a sister, Barb Shuckers.

Robert was born December 14, 1933 in Cedar Rapids and was a lifelong resident. He married Joyce A. Vanicek on May 23, 1953 at Sinclair Memorial Presbyterian Church in Cedar Rapids. Joyce died June 19, 2014. Bob was employed at Universal Engineering for over 25 years, retiring as a foreman in 1998.

Bob was an Army veteran of the Korean War. He was a member of Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church. Bob was actively involved in the Saint Vincent de Paul Society in Cedar Rapids and served as its President for 30 years. He was a spokesman for Catholic Charities in Eastern Iowa for many years.

Memorial contributions may be given to Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church and Hospice of Mercy.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.papich-kubafs.com under "obituaries".