James Fitzgerald Banaszek (Jim), 49 passed away on July 4th 2013 in Hiawatha, IA after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Visitation and memorial services will be held on Sunday July 7 from 12 - 3 pm at Cedar Memorial Funeral Home, Cedar Rapids, IA. Visitation will also be held on Monday July 8 from 4 - 7 pm with rosary to be recited at 3:30 pm at Van Hoe Funeral Home, East Moline, IL. A funeral mass will take place on Tuesday, July 9 at 10:00 AM at St. Anne's Catholic Church, East Moline. Jim was born on February 14, 1964 in East Moline to Stan and Betty Banaszek. Jim attended St Anne's Catholic School, East Moline and graduated from Alleman High School, Rock Island in 1982. During his high school years, Jim worked for the family business including Ridgewood Variety and Mr. Quick. Jim moved to Colorado in 1986 but returned to Cedar Rapids in 1990 to raise his family. Jim was employed with Black Hawk Freight for many years and ended his career in the transportation industry as Terminal Manager with Forward Air in May 2013 due to his illness. Jim married LaVonne Ellison in 1988 and together they had two beautiful daughters, Megan Elizabeth and Jenna Marie. Jim was always very athletic (the most athletic in his family), participated in high school sports and was a passionate Iowa Hawkeye fan. Everyone who knew Jim would remember him as a hard worker and as a person who always put every one else's needs before his own. His greatest love though, was spending time with his daughters, attending their school and sporting events and being their best friend. Jim took the girls to Hawaii in April 2013 for a family vacation making memories that they will always cherish. He fought his illness with great optimism, dignity and resilience till the end. During that long stretch of time, Megan and Jenna were by his side, providing care and comfort to their dad. Jim is survived by his daughters Megan and Jenna of Cedar Rapids, his parents Stan and Betty Banaszek of East Moline; his siblings Phil of Moline, Joe (Debbie) of Davenport, Lisa (Pat) Freeman of Liberty Twp. OH, Tom of East Moline, Michele of East Moline, Dan (Michele) of Moline, Christine of East Moline. He is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Jim was preceded in death by his grandparents, Stan and Genevieve Banaszek and Peter and Lorine Tvarkunas, his Uncle Mike Ferretti and Aunt Sis (Paula) Banaszek. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Jim's memory to Alleman Catholic High School - Rock Island, IL, Hospice House of Mercy - Hiawatha or Camp Wapsie - Coggon, IA.

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