William Arlen Blank (Arlen)
Age 95, of Cedar Rapids died Friday August 15, 2025 at HallMar Village. Funeral Mass 11:00 a.m. Friday September 5, 2025, at St. Pius X Catholic Church, where a visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. until service time. Rev. Jon Seda will be officiating. Burial is set for 2:00 p.m. at Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, with full military honors.
Arlen will now join his loving and caring wife Judy in heaven. He is survived by their 5 children, 6 grandchildren and 1 great-grandson: Daniel (Suzanne) Blank, Danielle and Elisa, Mateo, Superior, WI; Barbara (Allan) Grove, Marietta, GA; Constance McCool, Maya and Zachary, Chandler, AZ; Robert Blank, Jay and Natalie, Cedar Rapids, IA; Thomas Blank, Cedar Rapids, IA. Arlen was preceded in death by his parents, Arlee and Irene.
Arlen was born April 7, 1930, in Independence, IA. He graduated from Independence High School in 1947, and then attended Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa and joined the Air Force ROTC. In the Spring of 1951, Arlen graduated from Iowa State with a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering and then left for training in Texas as an Air Force 2nd Lieutenant. He was then deployed and served our country in 1952 in the Korea War south of Seoul as a communications officer and was honorably discharged in 1953.
Arlen then began his electrical engineering career at Collins Radio, Cedar Rapids, IA.
Arlen was joined in marriage to Judith Ann Kehrer on October 13, 1962, at St. Matthew Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, IA, followed by a wonderful honeymoon in Hawaii.
In November 1963, Arlen and Judy moved into their family home in Cedar Rapids and raised their 5 children. Arlen instilled a love of sports in the kids, especially golf, and he and Judy attended their many games and activities. He was a stable provider and continued his work at Rockwell Collins as an engineer and quality manager from 1953 until his retirement in 1987. Along the way Arlen earned his MBA from the University of Iowa in 1972.
Arlen was a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church and the American Legion, and enjoyed his time with Judy in golf, bowling and bridge. He was treated to many car travels as a child with his parents around the United States and visited every state's capitol. As a dedicated husband and father, Arlen shared his love of travel with the family in the paneled Chevy station wagon and car top carrier, especially for many summers at Lake Okoboji, IA, and a memorable 3-week trip to Pasadena, California, and back. Golf with friends and family was the usual recreation. After retirement, Arlen and Judy took many enjoyable trips to Europe and around the U.S., and made friends in the local ballroom dancing scene.
Arlen was able to entertain his family and guests with his rhymes, and his talent with Wheel of Fortune, crossword and sudoku puzzles, and his determined cookie and ice cream eating. The family thanks youngest son Tom for his loving care at home of Judy and Arlen in their final years, and a special thanks to the Mercy Hospice team and the caring staff at HallMar Village.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Arlen's name to Marion American Legion Post # 298

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