Richard A. 'Dick' McKeen, 18 Oct 1933 - 09 Mar 2021

MCKEEN, SCHMIDT, LILLIS, WILLIAMS, MOEN, FESSLER

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 3/18/2021 at 09:04:40

Richard A. "Dick" McKeen, 87, died peacefully Tuesday, March 9, 2021, at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Monday, March 15, 2021, at Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service, Iowa City, with Father Ed Fitzpatrick officiating. Visitation will be Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be at Memory Gardens Cemetery. The service may be viewed on Zoom. The link may be found on Dick's obituary page at www.lensingfuneral.com, under Tribute Wall.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Dick McKeen Memorial, c/o University of Iowa Center for Advancement, One West Park Road, Iowa City, IA 52244, www.GivetoIowa.org. Memorials may be designated to the Iowa Scholarship Fund (athletics), the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, or the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Donations may also be directed in Dick's memory to Cornell College, 600 First St., Mount Vernon, IA 52314. For the health and safety of all, please wear a mask and socially distance.

Dick was born Oct. 18, 1933, in Chicago, Ill., the son of Eugene and Dorothy (Schmidt) McKeen. He was a graduate of Mount Vernon High School and attended Cornell College. Dick served in the U.S. Army. On July 8, 1967, Dick married Kathleen Lillis at St. Thomas More Church in Iowa City.

Dick was a dedicated realtor for more than 44 years. He was an agent with Lepic-Kroeger Realtors and prior to that Dick McKeen Realty, Better Homes & Garden Real Estate. Dick was always very active in the real estate industry, serving on many committees on the local, state and national levels. Dick was President of the Iowa City Area Association of Realtors (ICAAR), President of the Iowa Association of Realtors (IAR), and a Regional Vice-President of the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Dick also was honored with the coveted "Realtor of the Year" award for both ICAAR and IAR, the Distinguished Service Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Iowa City Area Association of Realtors. Dick earned the Realtor Emeritus status in 2016. He was a respected industry leader and a mentor to many other realtors.

Dick was an avid sports fan and very civic-minded. In 1973, Dick was instrumental in organizing the Johnson County I-Club. He and his brother, Paul, received the honor of "Honorary Letterman" for the Hawkeyes. Dick was a member of the Noon Rotary Club, the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics Friends, University of Iowa President's Club, and had served on the advisory board of the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dick was honored to be inducted into the Mount Vernon High School Hall of Fame. He also served on the Cornell College Alumni Board. He was gregarious, very social, and loved time spent with family, friends and his golfing buddies.

Dick is survived by his wife Kathleen; his brother, Paul of Mesa, Ariz.; and brothers and sisters-in-law, John (Judy) Lillis of Williamsburg, Roseann Williams of Gallatin, Tenn., Mary Clare (Jerry) Moen of Clive, Terry (Joyce) Lillis of Urbandale and Kathleen Lillis of St. Louis. Dick was a special uncle to numerous nieces and nephews and great-nieces and -nephews. Dick was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Pat (Kermit) Fessler; his in-laws, Jim (Clarrita) Lillis; and sister and brothers-in-law, Donna McKeen, Bill Lillis, and Steve Lillis.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.lensingfuneral.com

Published in The Gazette on March 12, 2021.