Memorial

Frederick “Fred” Roger Stigers , 81, died at Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids, Monday, Nov. 24, 2014, surrounded by his loving family.

 A funeral Mass will be held Saturday, Nov. 29, at 11 a.m. at St. Pius X Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids with the Rev. Phil Thompson officiating. Visitation will be held 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28, at Cedar Memorial Funeral Home and Saturday at the church from 10 a.m. until time of service. Burial will be in Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.

Fred was born Feb. 27, 1933, in Tama, Iowa, to Paul and Dorothy (Bissell) Stigers.  A graduate of Tama High School, he attended Coe College. Employed by Rockwell Collins for 42 years, Fred retired as manager for the company’s Quality Avionics Service Centers. Active in the community, he served as president and a member of the board of College Community School District, a Cub Scout Pack Master, Little League coach and Prairie High School Booster Club member. He was a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church.

A loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend, Fred will be greatly missed for his sense of humor and his kindness and caring toward everyone he knew. An avid Hawkeye fan, Fred also enjoyed driving his pontoon boat on the Cedar River and at Table Rock Lake as well his travels both abroad and to visit his family members.

Survivors include his wife Phyllis (Haynes) Stigers who he married May 1, 1950; three children: Roger (Nancy Bishop) Stigers of Drums, PA; Stephanie (Jack) Chisholm of Overland Park, KS; and Norman Stigers of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren: Julie Stigers M.D., Jennifer Malcolm, Steven (Gabriella) Stigers; Michelle (Zach Reed), Christine and Laura Chisholm; Sherel (Clint) Mainer and Stacey (Joe Primising) Stigers and step-grandchild Terry Herb; great-grandchildren Logan Malcolm and Allie Templeton; Sophie and Liam Stigers; Hailey and Chase Douglas Stigers; Faith and Matthew Mainer;  and step-great-grandchildren Jacob and Ashley Herb; and  daughter-in-law Pat Cline of Norway, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Douglas; sister June Porter and brother Gary Stigers. 

The family extends thanks to his doctors:  Deborah Wilbur, Matthew Anderson and David Rater; the staff at St. Luke’s and Mercy Hospitals; and his caregivers Laurie Schug, Melinda Nagle and Norman Stigers. We also thank Jim and Maryellen Waite for their caring support.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to St. Pius X Catholic Church or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.