Memorial

Ben Ortiz, 24, of Cedar Rapids, died Tuesday October 30, 2012. Funeral Mass: 11:00 a.m. Saturday at St. Jude Catholic Church. Burial: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 4-7 p.m. at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home, where a vigil service will begin at 5pm. Survivors include his mother, Carole Ortiz and fiancée Joel Smith of Cedar Rapids and father,Cruz Ortiz of Dumas, Texas, his grandparents, Dorris Gerard of Cedar Rapids and Josefina Bonilla of Chihuahua, Mexico, a half brother, Jesus Ortiz, two half sisters, Brenda Molina and Mireya Ortiz both of Dumas, Texas. Also surviving are aunts, uncles and many cousins, his god mother, Pam Millet of Canyon, Texas and his best friend Max. He was preceded in death by a sister, Virginia Ortiz, his grandparents; Donald Gerard and Enrique Ortiz. Ben was born October 8, 1988 in Amarillo, Texas, the son of Cruz Ortiz and Carole Gerard. He was kitchen manager of Dublin’s City Pub in Cedar Rapids and a member of St. Jude Catholic Church. He graduated from Jefferson High School, where he was active in band and sports. Ben loved to cook and enjoyed his extended family from Dublin’s City Pub. He was an Eagle Scout and loved his pets, Max and Izzy. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.