Memorial
Roger H. Desmarais, 90, of Cedar Rapids, died at home on Friday, February 20, 2015 following a brief illness.
Funeral Mass: 10:00 am Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at St. Jude Catholic Church by the Rev. Mark Reasoner. Burial with military rites: St. Joseph Cemetery. A vigil service will be held at 6:00 pm Monday at Cedar Memorial Westside Chapel where friends may visit from 4 to 7 pm and after 9:00 am Tuesday at the church.
Roger is survived by his children, son, Bill (Karen) Desmarais of Cedar Rapids; daughters, Carol (Ron) Schorg of Bettendorf, Susan (Scott) Matson of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, Julie (Scott) Pameticky of Cedar Rapids; seven grandchildren, Colton Desmarais, Alec, Will, and Joel Schorg, Adam Matson, Emily Matson and Taylor Pameticky; great grandchildren, Jocelyn, Anemone, and Daphne; brother, Francis X. (Doris) Desmarais of Chicopee, MA; sisters, Gertrude Voss of Vero Beach, FL, Eileen Gosselin of Vero Beach, FL, Rose (Roger) Lamontagne of Memphis, TN, Joan (Norman) LeBlanc of Vero Beach, FL; sister-in-law, Terese Desmarais of Hawley, MA.
Roger was preceded in death by his parents, wife Kathleen in 2008 and infant son, Dean Francis Desmarais, brother, Richard Desmarais, sister, Agnes Desmarais.
Roger H. Desmarais was born June 23, 1924 in Chicopee, MA the son of Francis and Mildred (Marin) Desmarais. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the U.S. Navy. He attended the University of Iowa and received a B.A. and M.A. degree. On June 6, 1946 he married Kathleen Sedlacek in Iowa City. Roger taught science in the Clinton Community School District for 20 years and then was principal in the South Tama School District for many years until retiring in 1986. After retirement, he substitute taught in the Cedar Rapids Community School District for 19 years. He was a member of St. Jude’s Catholic Church where he was a catholic laymen, Congenial 100, Merimyx Dance Clubs and was a lifelong member of educational and civic groups.
Memorials may be directed to St. Jude’s Catholic Church, EWTN, Eastern Iowa Honor Flight or Hospice of Mercy.