Bernabe, Richard Oscar 1934-2011

BERNABE, SMITH, MILLER, BROWN, SHORT, OLSON, AYERS

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 2/25/2017 at 14:37:42

Richard Bernabe
Windsor Heights
1934-2011

Richard Oscar Bernabe, 76, was born May 13, 1934 in St. Louis, Mo. to Oscar and Violet Bernabe. He went to his eternal rest on Thursday, April 7, 2011 at Mercy Hospice in Johnston. Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at Windsor Heights Lutheran Church, 1240 66th Street, Windsor Heights, IA. Burial will follow at Ankeny Memorial Gardens. A visitation will be held from 6-8 pm Monday, April 11, 2011 at Windsor Heights Lutheran Church.

After graduating from Tulsa Central High School, Richard proudly served in the United States Air Force from 1953 to 1960. He attended the University of Oklahoma where he received his degree in architecture in 1964.

Following his time at OU, Richard settled in West Des Moines, where he was a partner in the architecture firm of Payne, Champion and Bernabe. He worked in private practice and as an architect for the State of Iowa where he retired in 1998. Amongst many other accomplishments, he was proud to have designed the Grimes State Office Building, the library at Grandview University, the "Roundhouse" at Lincoln High School (where many of his grandchildren later performed), and several armories around the State of Iowa for the Iowa National Guard.

Richard was a member of the Windsor Heights Lutheran Church and also enjoyed watching baseball (especially the Iowa Cubs), gardening, and spending time with his grandchildren. He also devoted many years to Little League Baseball in the Des Moines area where he was a district administrator for over 15 years.

Richard is survived by his wife Dianne; his children: Sam (Mary) Bernabe and grandson, Nicholas, of West Des Moines, Mary (Jeff) Smith and grandchildren Hannah, Caleb and Joshua of Des Moines, Sarah (Bruce) Bernabe-Miller and grandchildren Britney (Jake) Brown, Madison, Samantha, Noah and Gabriel Short of Urbandale. He is also survived by step-children Derek (Betsy) Olson and grandchildren Kimberly and Derek of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin and Jody (Elizabeth) Olson and granddaughter Brooklyn of Des Moines, Aunt Anna Bernabe-Ayers and many sisters and brothers-in-law, and nieces and nephews. His beloved dogs, Tootsie and Lex will also miss him deeply.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers Donald, Frank and Jim.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Windsor Heights Lutheran Church, the Iowa Cubs Foundation for Youth Baseball, Mercy Hospice, or the Animal Rescue League of Iowa. ~ The Des Moines Register, Des Moines, Iowa Sat 9 Apr 2011.