Francis A. Halda

      Francis A. Halda, the son of Frank and Ida (Jedinsky) Halda, was born March 6, 1915 in Cedar Rapids. He attended schools in Cedar Rapids graduating from Washington High School in 1933 and from Coe College in 1938.

      During high school and college years he was first chair clarinetist in both bands and orchestras. He also played clarinet and saxophone in theater orchestras and dance bands including the Roger Graham Dance Band on location at the Thousand Islands Casino and the Au Sable Chasm Casino both in New York State and later played with George Sir Venka in Cedar Rapids.

      On December 23, 1942 he married Diana Coffey of Wellman at the Immaculate Conception Church in Cedar Rapids. Two children were born, Mary Diana Simpson of Hackettstown, New Jersey; and Tony Halda and wife Jodi of Klamath Falls, Oregon; six grandchildren , Rob Simpson and wife Kim of Brooklyn, New York; SST. Michael Simpson and wife Julia of Fort Knox, Kentucky; Jimmi Simpson and fiancé Melanie Lynskey of Los Angeles, California; Shannon Wipf of Portland, Oregon; Jennie Lee and husband Jack of Klamath Falls, Oregon; Anthony John Halda and wife Shannan of Klamath Falls, Oregon; and 5 great grandchildren, Hannah and Logan Lee, Katie and Andrew Halda, and Nicholas Simpson.