Clement "Clem" Blong

       Clement “Clem” Blong, age 92, of Cedar Rapids, IA, died on Sunday, March 16, 2014, at Cottage Grove in Cedar Rapids, IA.        Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, March 22, 2014, at St. Luke’s Catholic Church, in St. Lucas, IA, with Rev. Nick March presiding. Burial will be in the church cemetery.        Friends may call from 3:00-6:00 p.m., on Friday, March 21, 2014, and also after 9:30 a.m., on Saturday, at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in St. Lucas, Iowa.        Clement Rowan Blong was born on July 27, 1921, the son of Clement and Elizabeth (Leibold) Blong on the family farm near St. Lucas, Iowa. Clem attended St. Luke’s Catholic School in St. Lucas. He served in the US Navy in World War II, from 1941-45, aboard the USS Wyoming, and then attended radio and radar school. After the War, he returned to Cedar Rapids and worked at Collins Radio, which later became Rockwell Collins, for thirty three years. He was proud to have worked on the team which helped with the Apollo Space project from start to finish. Clement enjoyed traveling the United States with family, fishing up North and visiting with his family. Clement was a member of St. Matthew’s Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids, IA, and a former member of St. Luke’s Catholic Church in St. Lucas.                              Clement is survived by his three siblings: Rose Blong, Cedar Rapids, IA; Viola Schmelzer, Appleton, WI; and Irvin (Marie) Blong, Fort Atkinson, IA, along with several nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.      Clement was preceded in death by his parents: Clement and Elizabeth (Leibold) Blong. One sister: Florence (Dr. Daniel) Poirier. One brother-in-law: Joe Schmelzer.