Memorial
Tom Moran, 85, of Cedar Rapids died Sunday, August 19, 2018. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am Friday, August 24, 2018 at St. Matthew Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids. Visitation will be held at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home Thursday 4:30 to 7:30 with Scripture Service at 4:30. Friends may also visit at the church an hour before the Funeral Mass. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery Cascade, Iowa.
Tom was born April 29, 1933 in Cascade, the first born son of Eldred Moran and Margaret Knepper Moran.
He is survived by his brother Terry and wife Joyce of Cedar Rapids. Also surviving are two nephews, Mark Moran and wife Jamie and their children Tyler and Kate; Paul Moran and wife Dana; two nieces, Marla Nilson and husband Rodney and their children Davis and Olivia; and Tina Hall and husband Maurice and their daughter Jada. Other survivors include his sister’s partner Monica Hingston, his sister-in-law Charlene Flaherty, and his former sister-in-law Bonnie Schmitt and husband Dan.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and by his sister Peggy in 2011 and his brother Ken in 2016.
Tom graduated from St. Mary’s High School in 1951 and entered Loras College that fall. He joined the Dominican Brothers in 1953 and returned to Loras in 1955 and graduated in 1956. (The Junior Senator from Massachusetts, John F. Kennedy, was the commencement speaker.)
In 1956, he began teaching High School English in Lansing, Iowa. He received his MA Degree from Colorado State College in 1959 and began teaching at Harrison Elementary in Cedar Rapids that fall. In 1961, Tom began a six year assignment as principal at the new Madison Elementary School. Subsequently he served as principal at Johnson, Hayes and Monroe, Kenwood and Grant Wood schools. From 1987 until his retirement in 1993, he was an administrator in the Elementary Education Office at the Educational Services Center.
In his retirement, Tom served as a volunteer on the Foster Care Review Board. Before and after his retirement, he served in the Men’s Choir at St. Matthews and the Resurrection Funeral Choir. He also served on the St. Matthew Parish Council and took the Eucharist to the homebound.
Tom had a deep interest in genealogy. He restored his grandfather’s citizenship papers and produced a 30 page notebook on the Morans. He enjoyed his four trips to Central Europe and two trips to Ireland (in part to track the Morans), two trips to Australia to visit his sister Peggy and multiple winter trips with friends to Scottsdale.
Tom was an avid photographer in his travels. He also photographed twenty-five years of Knepper family annual picnics and produced a photographic CD to share with his numerous relatives. Coincidentally, Tom died on the day of this year’s picnic.
Tom enjoyed playing cards. Before his retirement, Friday evening card games with four friends were almost a weekly event. His Scottsdale trips with friends were also filled with card playing. Tom felt very blessed by being a member of the family and by the many friends with whom he traveled, played cards and shared countless meals.
He was very grateful for the wonderful care given to him at Meth-Wick and also for the services of Hospice of Mercy and the many years of care provided by Doctor Mark Goedken.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mathew’s Catholic Church, Meth-Wick Community (both in Cedar Rapids) or a charity of one’s choice.