Peter J. Kanakares, age 44, of Clarence, Iowa, was taken from his loving wife, children, family and friends after 2 years of courageously fighting the "Monster Within" on Tuesday, April 29, 2008, at St. Luke's Hospital Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Peter was born November 28, 1963, in Davenport, Iowa to Gregory and Mary Lou (Osmers) Kanakares. Peter graduated from Davenport West High School in 1982. On June 29, 1991, he was lovingly united in marriage to his best friend Annette Ruser. Their life together brought him great joy, love, laughter, fun and two beautiful children; Natalie Michele and Trevor Michael, he also has an older daughter Jacqueline (Jon) Hennessee of Davenport. Pete worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 26 years most recently in Clarence. He was a member of St. John's U.C.C. of Clarence where he served faithfully on the church council until he was struck by this monster. He also had served on the City Council in Clarence. Pete was a former member of the Blue Grass Volunteer Fire Dept and joined the Clarence Volunteer Fire Dept in 1992. He was honored in 1997 when his brothers chose him to be their chief. From then on he was known as "Chief Peter". As their chief he was rewarded in many ways especially throughout his illness as the men stepped up and took great care of the family. As a devoted father he coached T-ball for both his children and Pee-Wee baseball for his son along with many camping trips, vacations, fishing, hiking, road trips, volleyball and softball games. He enjoyed cigars and backyard bonfires, cooking and watching the Food Channel, but the things he truly loved, cherished and adored the most were his wife and children. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, May 3, 2008, at St. John's United Church of Christ in Clarence, Iowa. Burial will follow at St. John's Church Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 3:00-8:00 pm on Friday, May 2, at St. John's Church in Clarence. Not only will he be lovingly remembered by his wife, children and parents, he will be missed by his brothers Daniel (Karen) of Dewitt, Tom (Artie) of Illinois, Matthew of Blue Grass, Paul of Bettendorf and Andrew (Julie) of Coralville; sisters Diane (Rahn) Randolph of DesMoines, Theresa (Bill) Thompson of Davenport and Margaret (Alan) Dotts of Nevada, Iowa. Also not to ever be left out his very loving family from his wife's side: Father and Mother in-law Gary and Maureen Ruser of New Liberty, brothers in-law Gregory (Lorene) Ruser of Arkansas and Timothy (Dyannae) Ruser of Princeton and sister in-law Melanie (Jason) Koch of Muscatine. His faithful "Cancer Cat" Buttercup and many aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces and friends. Peter was preceded in death by by his little sister Amy Hensley.