Frank "Bud" M. Carnahan

It can be said that you measure yourself by those who measure themselves by you. Nothing could have been truer for Frank Max “Bud” Carnahan Jr., 84, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loved ones. Bud was born July 3, 1940, in Runnels, Iowa, to Frank Max Carnahan Sr. and Mildred Ellen Carnahan, Bud’s delivery was famously paid for in chickens, a humble start to a life marked by hard work, loyalty, and love.

Bud was the third of four children, Helen, Norma, and Jim. At 15, he faced the heartbreaking loss of his sister Norma, and later, his mother in 1964. His father remarried, and Bud gained a stepmother, Piccola, and half-sister, Alicia.

After several moves, Bud’s family settled in Cedar Rapids in 1958. A year later, he met Beverly Lynn Krumm. They married in 1960 and shared nearly 65 years together, raising three daughters: Crystal, Carey, and Lynnette. In 1990, tragedy struck when daughter Carey and her fiancé Shane tragically perished in a helicopter crash at the All-Iowa Fair. Bud’s beloved wife Bev passed away on April 29, 2025, just weeks before Bud’s own passing.

Bud’s strong work ethic began at an early age. He began delivering newspapers at age 12 and working various jobs in his teens before joining F&W Mack Truck at just 17. Over the course of 42 years, Bud worked his way from janitor to shop foreman, studying diesel mechanics and mastering his craft. Along the way, he trained dozens of younger mechanics, many of whom credit him for their own careers. He built lifelong friendships on the shop floor and earned the respect of coworkers across generations. Even in retirement, Bud stayed connected to many of those he mentored, proud of the relationships he built through years of hard work, loyalty, and quiet leadership. After Bud’s retirement from Mack Truck he enjoyed driving bus for College Community School District for many years.

Bud spent his younger years horseback riding, hunting, fishing, raising animals, and learning his way around a toolbox. That love for building things followed him throughout life. If you stopped by and he wasn’t in the house, you could almost guarantee he was out in the garage, happily covered in sawdust, working on his wooden Mack trucks, crosses, furniture, or whatever new project struck him. He loved swimming, karaoke, dancing, singing to his great-grandson Kreed, catching live music at the VFW, and making the rounds at Elks Lodge events with some of his best friends. And no matter what he was doing, he always made time for Bev’s cooking. Of course, no list of Bud’s hobbies would be complete without mentioning one of his favorites, torturing his brother Jim, often with a hammer in hand and a smirk that said, “this is gonna be good.”

Bud will be remembered for his humor, loyalty, and steady presence in the lives of those who knew and loved him. He was a provider, a friend, and a storyteller. His deep love for his family, country music, and the simple joys of life will never be forgotten.

Bud was a proud grandfather to his grandchildren, Justin (Melissa) Clark, Jesse Clark, Austen (Nicole) Carnahan, Alivea (Cody) Wagner, Emma, Haley, and Samuel Descourouez and found joy being a great grandfather to 6 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Bev, daughter Carey, son in law’s Tom Clark and Shane Burlingame, his parents, stepmother, Piccola and sisters Norma and Helen.

He left us with a few classic Bud-isms that sum him up perfectly: “It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice” usually said with a grin after teasing someone. And whenever life got wild or someone made a fuss, he’d just shake his head and say, “It’s your world, I just live in it,” like a man who knew better than to argue with crazy.

Visitation will be held on June 23, 2025, from 4 – 7 p.m. at The Legacy Center at Murdoch-Linwood in Cedar Rapids. A celebration of life will follow on June 28, 2025, at the Elks Lodge from 4 – 8 p.m. A private burial will take place at Linwood Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, at a later date.

Memorial donations may be made to the family for a memorial fund to be established in Bud’s honor.