Rich, Joseph Dean (1937-2006)

RICH, SCHROPP, SMITH, OPPELT, VAIL, GERARD, PHELPS, MEYER

Posted By: Jane Adams (email)
Date: 2/28/2007 at 18:10:30

Fairfield Ledger
Mon., May 1, 2006, p. 8.

Joseph Dean RICH, 69, of Washington, Iowa, died Friday, April 28, 2006, at Washington County Hospital following a sudden illness.

Celebration of life services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Jones Eden Funeral Home, with the Rev. Brian Gentz officiating. Interment with military honors conducted by Washington American Legion Post 29 will be at Hillcrest Cemetery in Brighton.

Visitation will begin at 2 p.m. Monday at the funeral home, with family present from 4-8 p.m.

Masonic Lodge services conducted by Washington Masonic Lodge No. 26 will be at 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

Memorials have been established to Masonic Lodge or American Legion Post 29. Online condolences may be sent via www.jonesfh.com.

Mr. RICH was born March 10, 1937, in Peoria, Ill. He married Marlene SCHROPP Jan. 1, 2002, in Polishville.

Mr. RICH was raised by his adoptive parents Joseph and Alta Farrier RICH. He attended school in Brighton and graduated from Brighton High School in 1955. He lived in Washington since November of 2001 and had formerly lived in Brighton and Pleasant Plain. He worked many years at Crane Valves in Washington, Iowa, until his retirement July 17, 2003.

Mr. RICH was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, serving from 1956-1960. He also served in the National Guard and retired in 1997.

Mr. RICH was a member of Washington American Legion Post 29. He was a member of Masonic Lodge No. 613 in Brighton and Order of the Eastern Star in Brighton.

He enjoyed dancing and helping with the Polishville dances. His interests included history, gardening, woodworking, traveling south to the Rio Grande Valley and attending flea markets.

Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Kim SMITH and husband Dennis of Ohio; one son, Jimmy RICH and wife Nancy of Junction City, Kan.; four stepchildren, Sheryl OPPELT of Lone Tree, Debra VAIL and husband Chuck of Wellman, David GERARD of Oxford and Glenn GERARD and wife Lisa of Oxford; one grandson; six stepgrandchildren; five stepgreat-grandchildren; his mother, Elva PHELPS of Peoria, Ill.; and one sister, Willda MEYER of Wayland.

He was preceded in death by his adoptive parents, Alta and Joseph RICH, and one son, Billy RICH..
--
Printed with permission of the Fairfield Ledger.
This data transcribed for genealogy purposes; I am not related to the subject.