La Bahn, Richard J. "Dick" 1919-2009

LA BAHN, BANKS, COLLING

Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 11/20/2009 at 13:26:03

From: Le Mars Daily Sentinel, November 19, 2009

Richard J. "Dick" LaBahn, 89, a lifelong resident of Merrill, died Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009, at his residence.

Dick was born Dec. 5, 1919, at Merrill, the son of Alfred and Claire (Banks) LaBahn. He grew up in Merrill and graduated from Merrill High School in 1938.

He served his country during World War II with the U.S. Navy and was stationed in Hawaii. He also played softball for the U.S. Navy softball team while he was there.

Following his honorable discharge, he returned home where he met and married Agnes Colling at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Granville. The couple made their home in Merrill where Dick owned and operated LaBahn Garage until 1969. He was then employed by Herman M. Brown in Sioux City as a mechanic for heavy construction equipment until his retirement in 1985.

Dick was a lifelong member of Assumption Catholic Church in Merrill and a longtime member of the American Legion, Oleson-Halweg Post #125.

Dick and Agnes enjoyed their retirement by traveling and fishing together for many years.

Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Agnes LaBahn of Merrill; six children: Rod LaBahn and his wife Sandy of Le Mars, Dorothy Johnson and her husband Loren of Greeley, Colo. Wayne LaBahn of Merrill, Paul LaBahn of Merrill, Keith LaBahn and his wife Ingrid of Fort Collins, Colo., and Jerry LaBahn of Greeley, Colo.; six grandchildren; and four great-grandsons.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister Blanche Stewart.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church in Merrill, with the Rev. Daniel Greving officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Le Mars with military honors provided by the Oleson-Halweg Post #125 of the American Legion in Merrill. Visitation at the Feuerstein Funeral Home in Le Mars will be anytime after 3 p.m. Sunday, where there will be a parish rosary at 4 p.m. and a vigil prayer service at 7 p.m.