Memorial

David H. Bliss, 72, of Cedar Rapids, died Monday June 16, 2014 at West Ridge Care Center. Services: 10:00 a.m. Wednesday at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. Burial: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. The Rev. Steve Qualben will officiate. A visitation will be held Tuesday at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home from 4-7 p.m.

Survivors include his wife, Ardith E. Bliss, daughters, Ann E. Bliss of Salem, Oregon, and Amy Bliss (Adrian) Tenney of Baltimore, Maryland; his siblings, Ruth (Don) Werner of Omaha, Nebraska, Paul (Jadwiga) Bliss of San Diego, California, Kenneth (Norma) Bliss of Eugene, Oregon, Grace (Bill) Leiden of West Bend, Wisconsin, and Phyllis (Don) Sasse of Oshkosh, Wisconsin; and his foster granddaughter, Zefer Tesfamariyam of Toledo, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his parents and his infant son, Steven Bliss.

David was born August 2, 1941 in Champaign, Illinois, the son of Clifford and Edith (Schultz) Bliss. He married Ardith Elaine Felton on September 1, 1962 in Lincoln, Nebraska. David was an electrical engineer for Rockwell Collins, retiring in 2006 after more than thirty years of service. 

He received his B.S. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Nebraska and his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Iowa State University.  He subsequently received his M.S. in Library/Information Science from the University of Iowa. David served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam era.  He received a U.S. Army Commendation Medal.

David valued his family, his Christian faith, and education.  He enjoyed reading, Christian missions, nature preservation, and genealogy.  

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Marion, IA, or World Relief, Baltimore, MD.