Kalas, Richard 1929-2013

KALAS, SAHL, DALTON

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 6/14/2013 at 12:34:11

Sioux City Journal
June 10, 2013

MERRILL, Iowa | Richard Kalas, 83, of rural Merrill passed away suddenly Thursday, June 6, 2013, on his farm.

Services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church in Le Mars, with the Rev. Jon Meredith officiating. Interment will be in Resthaven Memory Gardens Cemetery in Le Mars, with military honors provided by Oleson-Halweg American Legion Post 125 of Merrill. Visitation with the family present will be after 4 p.m. today, followed by a 7 p.m. prayer service, at Carlsen Funeral Home in Le Mars. Visitation will continue 1 p.m. to service time Tuesday at the church.

Richard Otto Kalas was born Aug. 19, 1929 in Le Mars, Iowa, to Otto E. and Julia (Sahl) Kalas. Rich was raised on the family farm in Liberty Township and attended and graduated from Liberty Consolidated High School. He continued his education attending Iowa State University. He later returned back to Plymouth County to farm. Rich served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War from January of 1952 until his honorable discharge in October of 1953.

On Aug. 1, 1954, Rich and Gerri Dalton were united in marriage at the First Baptist Church in Le Mars. Rich farmed the family farm until the early 1990s when he semi-retired. He also drove truck part-time for Harlan Wagner Trucking for many years and received a safe-driving award for 37 years of accident-free driving from the insurance provider.

Family, church and community was always very important to Rich. He was a member of First Baptist Church for over 70 years, having served on many boards and committees throughout his life at church. He was a member of the Oleson-Halweg American Legion Post 125 of Merrill for 57 years. He served 32 years as a director with the Plymouth County REC. He was active with Plymouth County 4-H for over 70 years serving as a youth member, leader for his children and grandchildren, and volunteered at the Plymouth County Fair for many years. He had also served as a Plymouth County Fair Board member. Rich had attended several decades of the Plymouth County fair from exhibiting to leadership roles. The friendships gained will last forever.

By far, Rich’s greatest joy in life was his family. He loved the regular family gatherings of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He and Gerri could often be seen attending many sporting events and recitals of the grandchildren. As a grandfather, Rich instilled the values of responsibility, honesty and integrity to his grandchildren as well as service to God and country. He was always very supportive of their goals and ambitions.

Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Gerri of rural Merrill; three children, Terri Dryden and her husband Jim of South Sioux City, Twyla Rosenbaum and her husband Jim of Dakota Dunes, and Sheila Smit and her partner Mike O’Keefe of Kingsley, Iowa; 11 grandchildren, Rob (Laurie) Dryden, Brian Vos, Alex and Michael Malloy, Amanda and Heidi Rosenbaum, Jenni Smit (Ryan Toomer), Lexi Smit, Ashley (Grant) Ross, Rachel O’Keefe and Paige O’Keefe (Ben Groth); 12 great-grandchildren, Breanna Dryden, Joey Dryden, Amanda Schillinger, Madison Schillinger, Emma Schillinger, Shawn Beyers, Travis Ward, Tim Ward, Violet Rosenbaum, Delaney and Ryker Ross and Finleigh Groth; four great-great-grandchildren, Ava Dryden, Conlin, Keaton and Kaylor Beyers; several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Rich was preceded in death by his parents, Otto E. and Julia (Sahl) Kalas; stepmother, Alice Kalas; brother, Merlin Kalas; and a grandson, Shane Dryden.

Pallbearers will be Jim Dryden, Jim Rosenbaum, Mike O’Keefe, Brian Vos, Alex Malloy, Michael Malloy, Jenni Smit and Lexi Smit. Honorary pallbearers will be Rob Dryden, Jeff Kovarna, Randy Kovarna, Richard Williams and Doug Prewitt.