Gerald W. Cavanagh

Gerald W. Cavanagh, age 92 of Bettendorf, Iowa, formerly of Sabula, Iowa died Monday, October 31, 2011 at the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf. Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 3, 2011, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Preston, Iowa, with at scripture service at 7:30 p.m. A funeral mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 4, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Preston. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, Sabula.
Gerald was born May 13, 1919, in Delmar, Iowa, the son of Charles and Mary (Montfort) Cavanagh. He graduated from St. Mary’s High School in Clinton, Iowa. Gerald married Helen M. Miller on June 1, 1941, in Clinton, Iowa. She preceded him in death on March 31, 1994, also in Clinton. Gerald proudly served in the United States Army Air Corp during World War II.
Gerald worked at Dupont in Clinton for forty years. He was a member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Sabula and was the last living person on the original church building committee of the church. Gerald was a member of the V.F.W. in Sabula, the Sabula American Legion, and the Davenport, Iowa, Moose Lodge, and a volunteer fireman in Sabula. He loved to play cards, especially euchre, and was an avid fisherman.
Gerald is survived and lovingly remembered by three daughters, Jerilyn (Steve) Ginie of Olathe, Kansas, Jan Fulrath of Bettendorf, Iowa, and Julie (Mark) Theilken of South Lake, Texas; four sons, David (Rita) Cavanagh of Sabula, Iowa, Michael (Cheryl) Cavanagh of University Place, Washington, Patrick (Kim) Cavanagh of Parkersburg, West Virginia, and Timothy (Kyong) Cavanagh of Savanna, Illinois; eighteen grandchildren, eighteen great grandchildren; two sisters, Darlene Craig and Ramona Heinrich; and one brother, Ray Cavanagh.
Gerald was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Helen; one sister, Mary Andersen; and five brothers, Maurice, Lawrence, Pat, Joseph and Daryl Cavanagh.