Cecil Rhoads

Cecil Marven Rhoads passed away peacefully on May 26, 2024, surrounded by his family. He was born October 11, 1927, to Cornelius D. and Gladys E. (Wheatley) Rhoads in Griswold, Iowa. They divorced and Gladys married Harrison Wright in 1942. He grew up in Red Oak graduating from Red Oak High School in 1945 and lettered in basketball, football and baseball.
Visitation will be held Thursday, May 30, 2024, from 4-7 p.m. and services on Friday, May 31, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at the Ankeny First United Methodist Church, 206 SW Walnut St. in Ankeny. A private family burial will be at Ankeny Memorial Gardens. The service will be livestreamed at https://boxcast.tv/view/rhoads-memorial-mj78n2orteqw0gjufybp.
He served in WWII in the army from July 1945 to August 1947 as a medical airman. After an honorable discharge, he went to Red Oak Junior College from 1947-1948 and then to Simpson College from 1948-1951, receiving his BA degree while lettering in three sports, basketball, football and baseball. He also played two summers for the Red Oak semi-pro baseball team making $5.00 a game.
He married Mary Alice Swanson July 19, 1953, in Clinton, Iowa and they were married for 57 years. They had five children, Marce, Sandy, Sue, Tony and Paul.
He got his first teaching and coaching job in Mingo in 1951 and led the 8-man football team to a 9-2 record. After Mingo, he taught and coached at Ventura (1952-1957), Greene (1958-1960), Sigourney (1961-1964), Nevada (1965-1973) and finished his career at one of the largest schools in the state, Des Moines Lincoln High School (1974-1985), being named Metro Conference Coach of the Year in 1975 and 1985. Prior to his time at Des Moines Lincoln, he also coached track and basketball at various stops.
He was inducted into the Iowa Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 1992, the Nevada Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Des Moines Lincoln Hall of Fame in 2012. He compiled 160 victories over his 34 years in coaching. He made a huge impact on many of his players and students and was considered a father-figure and mentor to many.
Cecil was an entrepreneur, inventing an 'exer-genie' and made and sold track pole vault and high jump pits which he named "CeMar" Pits. He spent many summers painting houses with other teacher friends.
After retiring from teaching American History and coaching, he worked for the Iowa House of Representatives as Sargeant-At-Arms from 1993-1996 where Mary also worked as a house clerk.
Together they spent many years traveling in the fall to watch their son Paul play and eventually coach college football. He also enjoyed going to his grandchildren's activities, making each one feel special. He liked to ride his bike and walk every day, keeping extremely fit into his 90's.
Cecil loved meeting and talking to friends and meeting new people and was quick with his smile and a handshake to all he met.
When Mary was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 1998 at the age of 65, he honored his marriage vows and took care of her at home for 13 years with tender loving care.
He was a member of Toastmasters and the Ankeny First United Methodist Church for 50 years where he and Mary were often greeters and ushers.
He is survived by his five children, Marce (Keith) Huhn, Sandy (Mike) Macklin, Sue (Tim) Jennings, Tony (Jana) Rhoads, Paul (Vickie) Rhoads; 13 grandchildren, Ashley (Ryan) Houck, Carly (Michael) Schieffer, Haley Huhn, Riley Huhn, Lindsay Macklin, Josh Macklin, TJ (Molly) Jennings, Jill Jennings, Blake (Haley) Rhoads, Brooke Rhoads, Bailey Rhoads, Jake Rhoads and Wyatt Rhoads; and 9 great-grandchildren, Tucker, Cy and Bryce Houck, Silas, Mary Grace and Phoebe Schieffer, Keegan Macklin and Maren and Harrison Jennings.
He was preceded in death by his wife Mary (2011) and an older brother Howard L. Rhoads (1948).
The family would like to thank Rock Creek Memory Care and Suncrest Hospice for their compassionate care.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association. Cecil Rhoads Funeral Service