GORDON, Richard 1914-2011

GORDON, WALLACE

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 10/8/2011 at 11:34:43

Richard Gordon

Birth: May 3, 1914
Death: October 4, 2011

Richard Gordon passed away on Tuesday, October 4, 2011 in Charles City following a short illness. His body is being donated to Mayo Clinic for use by medical students. There are no services planned. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to St. John Lutheran Church, Charles City or to the charity or organization of your choice.

Richard Gordon was born May 3, 1914 to Anna and Wallace Gordon in Post Township near Postville, Iowa.

Richard grew up in the Postville area, hunting and fishing to assist the family. He traveled with a tent roller rink and to Texas with a carnival in his youth. He enlisted in the Civilian Conservation Corps and was assigned to survey work at Backbone and Palisades Kepler State Parks.

Richard was married to Elsie Gordon in 1939 and moved to Decorah, Iowa. He began working at the turkey plant, plucking and packing turkeys. Elsie and he moved back to Postville in 1940 and went to work for Gross Chickens, building a 200 nail egg crate and being paid three cents for each completed crate. In 1941 he moved his family to Charles City, Iowa and began work as a machine oilier at Oliver Tractor Corporation. He was picked to be an apprentice in the Tool and Die department and completed studies through International Correspondence Schools to become a journeyman tool and die maker. He retired from Oliver Corporation

Survivors include one son; LaVern Richard (Rose) Gordon of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and four grandchildren, Tim (Dawn) Johnson of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, Sarah (Ryan) Holdmeyer of La Crescent, Minnesota, Christine Gordon (Chad) Ballagh of Altoona, Iowa and Paul (Sarah) Johnson of Cambridge, Massachusetts and two great grandchildren, Kennedy and Kinley Holdmeyer.

He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, Ralph, Aldo, Harvey, and Virgil Gordon; one sister, Emma; his ex-wife, Elsie; a daughter, Nancy Johnson; and grandson, Neil Gordon.

Richard enjoyed playing pool, collecting guns and coins, gardening, and riding the many motorcycles and scooters he owned throughout his retirement. He also enjoyed taking walks with his dog, Pepper, in Nashua and talking with his many friends. He particularly liked to hear news of his grandchildren and great grandchildren. One year Richard was named Retired Citizen of the Year for Charles City.

[ Hauser Funeral Home website obituary, 10/8/2011 ]

Floyd Obituaries maintained by LaVern Velau.
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