Ivan L. Chester, 89, of the Methwick Community in Cedar Rapids died Friday November 17, 2017 at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy. Per Ivan's wishes there will be no services. A gathering to celebrate Ivan's life will be held in the Teahen Monarch Room 12 to 3 p.m. on Saturday December 2, 2017. Teahen Funeral Home and Cremation Service is serving the family.
Ivan will be missed by his wife, Mary Bess; nieces and nephews Carole (Duane) Dzingle of Marion, Joyce (Doug) Henderson of Fairfax, Gary (Margret) Mausser of Walker, Paula Brandt of Iowa City, Jennifer (Mark) Zieman of Postville, Joel Overland of Spring Green, WI, Jeff Overland of New Haven, CT; and many other nephews, great nephews and nieces, and great-great nephews and nieces.
Ivan was preceded in death by his sister and brother in law Ruth and Bob Mausser; brothers in law and sisters in law, James and Golda Markley, Bob and Barb Markley and Margaret and James Overland.
Ivan was born on November 8, 1928, son of Frank and Emma Chester in Walker. He graduated from Walker High School in 1946 and Cedar Rapids Business College in 1948. Following, he serv...[more]
in the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1952. On April 19, 1963 Ivan married Mary Bess Markley at the First Lutheran Church. Ivan was employed by Armstrong's Department Store as a buyer for the Sporting Goods department and Merchandise Manager in the Home Furnishings department for 40 years, retiring in 1987.
He served on the boards of the Linn Community Food Bank, the Cedar Rapids Community Concert Association, and Armstrong's Department Store. Ivan enjoyed volunteering at Brucemore, Theatre Cedar Rapids, the Linn Community Food Bank and the Cedar Rapids Community Concert Association.
Ivan enjoyed playing tennis, traveling, reading and creating stained glass art.
The family wishes to thank the staff of angels at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy and the Meth-Wick community for their excellent care.
Instead of flowers memorials may be directed to the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy. The Linn Community Food Bank, the Meth-Wick Foundation, or a charity of your choice.