Nick S Cardamon

Nick S. Cardamon passed away on October 10, 2023, at the Iowa Jewish Senior Life Center in Des Moines, IA at the age of 94. Services will be held on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Urbandale, Iowa. A visitation will start at 9:30 a.m. with a rosary, and the mass will start at 10:30 a.m.

Nick was born June 14, 1929, to Italian immigrants, Nicola and Angela (Bonacci) Cardamone. Named after his father, Nick was the seventh of eight children. His parents arrived in Des Moines, IA in the 1920s originating from the town of Soveria-Mannelli in the Italian province of Calabria.

With his seven siblings, Nick grew up among the large Italian community established on the south side of Des Moines. He attended St. Anthony’s Grade School and both Lincoln and Dowling Catholic High Schools.

In 1946, arranged by his sister, Carmella, he attended the Dowling – St. Joseph Academy Junior Prom on a blind date with a St. Joe’s beauty from Beaverdale named Kathleen Fitzpatrick. After high school, they married and through this union had five children.

Throughout his life, Nick was always in the bar business. His first job was as a bar boy at the thriving Babe’s Restaurant in downtown Des Moines. From there, he opened his own businesses such as The Woodland Lounge, the Mulberry Tree, the Plaza Pub, and Cardamon’s T and T. His last venture was Carl’s Place.

Besides his devotion to his family, Nick was an avid fan of Notre Dame University. He never missed a football game and even travelled with his family to South Bend each fall for a game. He was also a proud supporter of Dowling Catholic High School. He was a devout Catholic and he attended Mass every Sunday with Kathleen.

Nick is survived by his last sibling and sister, Carmella Yacavona, his five children: Janet (Keith) Barcus, Nicholas, Kathryn, Michael, and Mary Margaret Cardamon. Also surviving, are his grandchildren: James and Joseph Barcus, and Matthew, Michael, and Nicole Kiebel, six great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild; and sister-in-law, Jean Fitzpatrick.

Nick is predeceased by his parents, wife Kathleen in 2013, and siblings: sister Rose Chiodo, brothers Frank, Joseph, Paul, and William Cardamon, and infant sister Christina.

The family would like to thank the staff of the Iowa Jewish Senior Life Center for the care and compassion Nick received.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mclarensresthavenchapel.com for the Cardamon family. In Nick’s name, memorials can be given to St. Pius X Catholic Church in Urbandale, IA.