Thayer, Richard Arnold (1943-2023)

THAYER, THOMAS, ORVEDAL, BERGAN, QUACKENBUSH, JOHNSON, GOODALE, ROWSON

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 8/22/2023 at 08:13:12

South Hamilton Record News
Jewell, Iowa
March 22, 2023

Richard Arnold Thayer, 79, of Jewell, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, March 18, 2023 at the Israel Family Hospice House in Ames.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM on Friday, March 24, 2023 at the Soderstrum-Reimers Funeral home in Jewell. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery.

Rich was born in Sheffield, Iowa on April 3, 1943 to DeLila (nee Thomas) and Oscar Thayer.

He was raised on a farm in Northwood, Iowa, where he met Carolyn Orvedal on a neighboring farm. They were married on August 24, 1963. Together they moved to Jewell in 1967 and raised their family there. Rich worked for Hamilton County Road maintenance and several area farmers during spring and fall field work.

When asked how he was doing, his answer was often "finer than frog's hair." Rich was a fun-loving man who enjoyed a good joke and teasing his family, especially his grandchildren. He had a soft spot for pets, especially any neighborhood cat he deemed a "good mouser." As he said, in life we "never know which way the pickle's going to squirt." He enjoyed watching car races at the Hamilton County Speedway, especially his son-in-law Al Johnson, NASCAR, and playing the slots at Meskwaki Casino.

Rich will be remembered by his wife, his daughters and sons-in-law, Charlene (Patrick) Bergan of Overland Park, KS, Debra Quackenbush of Honeoye Falls, NY, and Shellie (Al) Johnson of Randall, IA; and his grandchildren, Paige and Brooke Bergan, Ryan, Evan and Lily Quackenbush, Annie and Katie Johnson; two sisters-in-law, Gertie Goodale and Judy Orvedal; as well as other friends and family.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister Marilyn Rowson; brothers, Thomas, Rolland, Larry and Claude; and two sons John Oscar (stillborn) and James Thayer.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Soderstrum-Reimers Funeral Home and online condolences may be left for Rich's family at www.adamssoderstrum.com

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Jewell Fire and Rescue fund.