Feenstra, Richard John 1934 - 2024

FEENSTRA, DYKSTRA, WESSELING, LLOYD, SPEICHER, VAN DAM

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 10/12/2024 at 11:52:38

Richard John Feenstra, age 90, of Cresco, Iowa passed away on Monday, October 7, 2024 at his home.

Richard was born in Douglas County, South Dakota on April 21, 1934 to Nick and Dorothy (Dykstra) Feenstra, one of three children. Nick and Dorothy were both from the Netherlands and that Dutch heritage was an important part of Richard, along with the Christian faith that began in the Christian Reformed Church in New Holland, South Dakota.

Richard was united in marriage to Pauline Wesseling on November 15, 1955. They farmed for a short time in South Dakota before moving to Lime Springs, Iowa. In Lime Springs, Richard and Pauline operated a dairy farm. They had two children. In 1987 they divorced.

On August 18, 1989, Richard married Rose Lloyd in Mitchell, South Dakota. They soon moved to Cresco where Richard and Rose both worked at Howard Residential Care until they retired. While in Cresco, the farmer moved to town but no one could take the farmer out of Richard. He loved growing all kinds of flowers and vegetables, starting them himself from seed. Richard and Rose’s backyard included a big vegetable garden and hundreds of flowers, of course, including many tulips.

He loved visiting with anyone who stopped by and was blessed to enjoy great friendships with his neighbors. Those who knew Richard knew his positive and thankful perspective. He could be content with very little while at the same time felt like he had so much. Richard loved to joke and laugh and had a quick witted comment for the moment. Most of all, Richard loved the Lord who saved him and who strengthened him daily. Richard felt blessed by the Lord and kept trusting Him all the way.

Survivors include: his loving wife, Rose; his children and step children, Wayne Feenstra of Plainview, MN, Janean (Jeff) Speicher of Eldora, IA, Randy (Dara) Lloyd of Cedar Rapids, and Rhonda (Jeff) Lloyd of Cedar Rapids; nine grandchildren and step grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Nick and Dorothy (Dykstra) Feenstra, his brother John (Sophie) Feenstra and sister Bregetta (Tennyson) Van Dam.

A celebration of life will be held at 11:00am on Monday, October 14, 2024 at the Cresco United Methodist Church with Rev. Melissa Warren officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church on Monday morning.

Source: Schmelzer Funeral Home database