John Alfred Gudenkauf
John Alfred Gudenkauf
Cedar Rapids
John Alfred Gudenkauf, 77, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away peacefully at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, with his family by his side. The family will greet friends from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Friday, April 5, 2024, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Marion, Iowa. A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 6, at the funeral home, with full military honors. A private family burial will be held at a later date at Oak Hill Cemetery in Tama, Iowa.
John was born on December 3, 1946, in Dyersville, Iowa, the son of Carl and Salome Gudenkauf. He was the youngest of 11 children and graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Monticello, Iowa, with the Class of 1965. He proudly served his country in the United States Air Force from 1966 to 1970, being station in Del Rio, Texas and Hahn, Germany. When returning from Germany, John settled in Cedar Rapids, working various roles at Quaker Oats, Vincent Brass, and Vigortone. He then spent 17 years at Rockwell Collins Security, retiring in 2001. During “retirement,” John used his love of woodworking and worked as a finishing carpenter for Sattler Homes for several years. He was united in marriage to Barbara J. Gerlach on April 26, 1980, in Cedar Rapids.
Throughout his life, he participated in many sports, including high school baseball and basketball, fast pitch softball, and multiple bowling leagues. John also had a passion for the outdoors and spent many hours hunting pheasants, deer, and turkey. When hunting seasons were closed, it was time to fish for walleyes. It wasn’t rare to find him on the Mississippi River from January through April, in any kind of weather. Even walking out on the ice with a 12-foot Jon Boat to reach open water wasn’t out of the question, if there was a chance to bring home some fish. His summers were filled with lots of golf with friends and family. He played at every opportunity in leagues, tournaments, or just a round with friends. To this day, you can likely find most of John’s golf balls deposited on courses throughout Eastern Iowa.
John is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Barb; three children, Brad (Susan) Gudenkauf of Eagan, Minnesota, Janna Gudenkauf of Cedar Rapids, and Jeff (Jacklyn) Gudenkauf of Cedar Falls, Iowa; six grandchildren, Zach and Symon Ender, Kaden and Kaija Gudenkauf, and Lexi and Hunter Gudenkauf; four siblings, Lloyd Gudenkauf of Dubuque, Iowa, Donna Hammerand of Dubuque, Joyce Peterson of Phoenix, Arizona, and Florabelle Ornelas of Tucson, Arizona.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Carl Jr., Alfred “Al” and Godfrey “Fay” Gudenkauf; sisters, Lois Fangmann, Edna Wolter, and Mae Venneman; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
John will be remembered for his dry sense of humor, easygoing nature, love of his children, and his complete adoration of his grandchildren. He was a loving husband, son, brother, uncle, selfless father, and proud grandfather, whose absence will be felt profoundly by his family.
Memorials in John’s memory may be directed toward the family to be designated later to a charity of the family’s choosing.
Please share a memory of John at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.