Memorial
Lawrence E. Basile, 70, family man and consummate collector of restaurant menus, varied lengths of crown molding, and truly loyal friends, died Friday, June 17, 2016 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids after a long battle with lung cancer.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 23, 2016 at First Presbyterian Church: 310 Fifth Street SE, Cedar Rapids. A Celebration of Larry’s life will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 24, 2016 at First Presbyterian Church officiated by Rev. Heather Hayes. Entrusted with the arrangements is Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home.
Larry was born on September 10, 1945 at Loretto Hospital in Chicago, Illinois to Lawrence G. and Dorothy (LaSalle) Basile. After graduating from St. Mel High School, Larry received his BA in communication arts from St. Mary’s College in Winona, Minnesota, and completed his MA at Saint Louis University in theatre arts. Larry married Catherine Leytze on December 18, 1982 in Independence, Iowa. Together, they raised their children, Anna and Nick, in Cedar Rapids where Larry worked in advertising for Hi-Way Equipment Company until 1996.
Larry lived his life with enthusiasm and gusto and was extremely proud of his Italian heritage. He was known to declare, “You can’t enter an Italian home without an appetite,” while serving up a heaping plate. He was generous with his time and talents, often volunteering to benefit youth in Cedar Rapids. He was a founding member of the Tuesday Evening Optimist Club and the Saturday Morning Breakfast Boys. Larry enjoyed spending time at the family’s place on the Mississippi River, hosting guests for dinner parties, playing bocce with friends and neighbors, rooting for the Hawkeyes, Bears, and Cubs, and watching Westerns into the wee hours of the morning. He will be remembered as a compassionate surrogate father-figure, a teller of very long jokes, and a lover of savory sauces.
Larry is survived by his wife Catherine; children and spouses Anna and Kyle Wehner of Iowa City, Nick and Jordan Basile of San Francisco, Christopher Basile of Melrose Park, IL and Rose Ellen Hovey of Melrose Park, IL; his new grandbaby, the apple of his eye, Miriam Wehner; siblings Bonnie (Tom) Graham of Addison, IL and Ron (Christine) Basile of Darien, IL. Preceding Larry in death were his parents and his beloved uncle, Cal Basile.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to The Boys and Girls Club of Cedar Rapids, Tanager Place, or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
His family would like to thank Dr. Fusselman and the PCI Oncology nurses, Dr. Lee and his staff at Mercy Hospital, Dr. Melanie Stahlberg and her staff, and Sue Rowbotham and her colleagues at Unity Point Hospice.