Michael Keith Runneals, 53, of Cedar Rapids, died Friday, June 19, 2015 at home surrounded by his loving family and friends.  Mike had lived courageously with brain cancer for more than 20 years and was a true inspiration to everyone who knew him.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, June 23, 2015 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at the Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories.  Memorial services will be held on Wednesday, June 24, 2015 at 1:30 PM at the Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories.   

A second memorial service will be held on Thursday, June 25, 2015 at 1:30 PM at Elim Lutheran Church: 302 West Church Street, Marshalltown, Iowa.  Family will greet friends beginning at 1:00 PM at the church; inurnment to follow at the Riverside Cemetery in Marshalltown.

Mike was born February 4, 1962 in Marshalltown, Iowa, son of Larry and Barbara (Thorp) Runneals.  Mike graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1980, and attended Marshalltown Community College where he played basketball.  He received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Iowa State University in 1985.

Mike was united in marriage to Mary Christine “Chris” Wheeler on May 28, 1988 at Elim Lutheran Church in Marshalltown.  Mike and Chris lived in Minnetonka, Minnesota where their daughter, Natalie Christine, was born.  They returned to Iowa to be closer to family in 1995.  He worked for Overholt Crop Insurance and IDS Life Insurance Co. in the Minneapolis area, and later for Network Data Processing, Toyota Financial Services, Inc. and Iowa Fluid Power in Cedar Rapids.

Mike was an avid Iowa State Cyclone fan, loved sports, and especially enjoyed walking with his golden retriever, Yak.  He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed being outside whenever he could and especially fishing, hunting wild turkeys, pheasants, and waterfowl.  Mike spent many years coaching Natalie’s YMCA girls’ basketball teams.  More than anything, Mike inspired everyone around him in the way he lived his life as an extraordinary father, son, husband, and friend, in spite of his ongoing illness.  

He is survived by his wife, Chris, and daughter, Natalie; parents Larry and Barbara Runneals of Marshalltown; sister, Kathy Runneals of Cedar Rapids; mother-in-law, Kathy Roughton of Marion; brother-in-law Patrick Wheeler (Amy O’Connell) and their children, Joe, Annie and Lucy of Eagan, Minnesota; sister-in-law Sarah (Michael) Stinson and their children, Jacob and Ruby of Pleasanton, California; and many loving aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.  

He was proceeded in death by his maternal grandparents, Evelyn and Keith Thorp; paternal grandparents, Francis and Ilo Runneals; aunt, Janet Beam; father-in-law, James R. Wheeler; brother-in-law, James J. Wheeler; and stepfather-in-law, Jim Roughton. 

The family would like to express a special thank you to Dr. Thomas Carlisle and staff, formerly at the University of Iowa, for their care over the years, and to the UnityPoint Hospice care team for their loving and compassionate care over the last year and a half of this journey.  We are forever grateful.

Memorials may be directed to the family.