Richard "Dick" Theobald 1924-2011

THEOBALD, WALRATH, KRON, ZAIGLER

Posted By: Dorothy Gosse (email)
Date: 7/28/2011 at 14:17:37

IOWA CITY - Richard "Dick" V. Theobald, 86, of Iowa City, died Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at Mercy Hospice after a long illness.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday at 10 a.m. at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Coralville. The Rev. Walter Helms will officiate.
Visitation will be Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service in Iowa City where a rosary will begin at 3:45 p.m. and a vigil service at 7 p.m. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are requested to St. Thomas More and the Mercy Hospital Foundation.
Richard Vincent Theobald was born Sept. 25, 1924 to Thomas and Evelyn Theobald in West Union, Iowa. He attended Oelwein High School with his future wife Dorothy Walrath. He was president of his senior class. Dick and Dorothy were married Oct. 25, 1946 at what was then the Catholic Student Center in Iowa City, and later the rectory for St. Thomas More Catholic Church.
They returned to the rectory every year to have their picture taken in the doorway of the building, reenacting their wedding day photo.
Dick attended the University of Iowa, where he earned his bachelor's degree and a master's degree in hospital pharmacy. He worked his entire career at Mercy Hospital, serving as director of pharmacy for 21 years. When he retired in 2003 he had worked 53 years at the hospital.
Dick lived and died with his Iowa Hawkeyes. He attended football, basketball, wrestling, baseball, swimming, track, and gymnastics contests. He began attending Iowa football games in the early 1940s and he and Dorothy were season football and basketball ticket holders for more than 60 years.
He also was a devoted fan of the Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bears and the Boston Celtics.
Dick was a longtime member of St. Thomas More, where he served as a member of the parish council. He was past president of the Elder Services Inc. board. He was a member of state and national pharmaceutical associations. He volunteered for many years with his wife at the free lunch program at Wesley House, where he made good use of the dishwashing skills he learned putting himself through college.
Dick and Dorothy were sweethearts at 14 and inseparable ever after. When Dorothy was ill for several years in the nursing home, Dick would visit nearly every day often to simply sit near her as she slept. They built a life and family together through hard work and perseverance, venturing to Iowa City with only a card table, a hot plate and their clothes.
When Dorothy died March 11, so did part of Dick.
Dick is survived by four children, Kathy Kron (Ted) of Iowa City, Laurie Zaiger (Mark) of Iowa City, Richard of Manitowoc, Wis., and William (Mary Lou) of Washington, D.C.; grandchildren, Justin Montgomery (Sara), Jessica Huch (Pete), Adam Zaiger (Jessica), Nathan Kron, Allison Yem (Veasnar), Nicholas Kron, Katherine Theobald, Laura Theobald, Brianna Theobald and James Theobald; and five great grandchildren, Drew, Tyler, and Jackson Montgomery, Grace Huch, and Carter Yem. He also is survived by brothers Thomas, Jack, and Jerry. Richard was preceded in death by brothers Carroll (Sandy), and Jamie and sister Jane Alice.
Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.lensingfuneral.com

Published in Oelwein Daily Register on June 16, 2011