Karl Kelleher

Karl F. Kelleher, 72, of Cedar Rapids, died May 4, 2000, at his home after a brief illness. Funeral services were held May 8 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church of Lansing with Fr. Herbert Tegler officiating. Burial was in Gethsemene Cemetery, Lansing.
Karl was born Sept. 16, 1927, in the Wexford area, the son of Leonard and Mildred (Guider) Kelleher. He attended rural schools and the Consolidated School, Waterville, and graduated from Immaculate Conception High School, Lansing, in 1945. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1945 to 1946 aboard the light cruiser USS Vicksburg in the Pacific and the USS Astoria. He attended Loras College and the University of Iowa. Karl married Ruth Ann Intlekofer on June 16, 1951, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Waukon. He served in the Army during the Korean conflict from Sept., 1952, to July, 1954.
Karl attended evening classes at Coe College and was an insurance claims adjuster for 35 years. He most recently worked for American States Insurance Company, retiring in 1986. He was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids, Cedar Rapids Claims Association, Blue Goose International and the Elks Club and was a volunteer usher for the Cedar Rapids Symphony and Theatre Cedar Rapids. He enjoyed tracing family and Northeast Iowa history, coin collecting, photography, following the Iowa Hawkeyes, the stock market and traveling with Ruth Ann.
Karl is preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include his wife and best friend of 48 years, Ruth Ann; and a sister, Terri (Tony) Link of Waukon. Karl is also survived by 28 nieces and nephews, and 38 great-nieces and nephews.
Karl was a loving husband, son, brother and uncle. He will be dearly missed and always remembered as a kind and gentle man who honored his family, his friends and associates, his insurance clients and his country with the committment to duty and service. Karl's family expresses thanks to Mercy Hospice for their care and support of Karl in his brief battle with cancer. Memorial donations may be given to Hospice of Mercy or the charity of the donor's choice.
Casketbearers were Robert Link, Paul Link, Lori Pfiffner, Margaret Schobert, Charles Clark IV and Stephen Intlekofer.
Martin Funeral Home of Waukon assisted the family.