Memorial

Following a brief but spirited battle with cancer, John Raymond Donahue, 54, of Cedar Rapids, passed away October 11. Family and friends may gather to honor John’s memory Monday, October 19, 5:00-7:00 PM at Cedar Memorial. As mandated by proclamation, social distancing must be practiced which requires a limited number of people to be allowed into the visitation at one time.  The use of facemasks or shields in required. Graveside service and burial with military honors will be held Tuesday, October 20, 11:00 AM.

John was born September 2, 1966, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He graduated from Solon High School in 1984 and remained a loyal Spartans Football fan his whole life. He faithfully served his country and was stationed in Germany, where he married and his beloved sons Raymond and Stefan were born. John’s sons were the true light of his life and he delighted in time spent with them in Germany and Iowa. He loved to talk about “the boys,” as he frequently referred to them even after they grew into adults with a family and careers of their own. 

In addition to his close-knit family, John’s life was full of hobbies he pursued passionately. He was a bonsai enthusiast for most of his adult life, nurturing his oldest surviving bonsai tree for over 20 years. He was also active in the caving community, Iowa Grotto, and Cave Research Foundation. He participated in expeditions to map and survey Mammoth Cave in Kentucky and many local Iowa caves. John helped with many cave restoration projects and led scout trips engaging youth to the wonders of the underground.  Of course, John also loved his Iowa Hawkeyes. A favorite Iowa Football memory of his was the time he and his brother Pat dressed as members of KISS for a Halloween game and fellow fans lined up to take pictures with them.

Recycling and sustainability bridged both work and passion in John’s life. John’s passion for recycling and sustainability began during his service in the military. Upon return from Germany, he continued his work in this field. In 2007, he started with Heritage Environmental, a leading innovator in responsible, green solutions for waste in many industries. Initially, John managed the newly-built facility in Iowa City, but due to his hard work and effectiveness found himself taking on new leadership roles.  He loved his work and the entire Heritage family. 

Those left to cherish John’s memory are beloved sons Raymond (partner, Micol and her children Samuel, Imani, Sakina) and Stefan; parents Carol and Rick Allard; life partner Teresa Kurtz (and her children, his “bonus children” Lindsey, Libby, Tyler, Wil); brother Pat Donahue (Shelly); step-brother Chad Allard (Tina); step-sister Angie Beaver (Eric). He is also survived by a large and extremely close extended family whom he loved and cherished.

He is preceded in death by his father Raymond Donahue, and sister, Julie Donahue.