Brignon, Ricahrd Lee 1939-2017

BRIGNON, TURNEY, CEASER, VANERSVELDE, BOGART, BECK, COVEY, DAVIS

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 4/24/2018 at 07:47:36

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register
March 23, 2017

RICHARD LEE BRIGNON

Richard Brignon, age 77, of Grinnell, died on Saturday, March 18, 2017, at St. Francis Manor in Grinnell.

A funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m., Friday, March 24, 2017 at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell with Pastor Dave Crow officiating and military honors provided by the Iowa Army National Guard. Interment will follow the service at Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell.

Visitation began at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday at the Smith Funeral Home and his family greeted friends from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m.

Memorials may be designated to Grinnell Regional Hospice or to the St. Francis Manor Foundation and mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, Iowa 50112. Condolences may be shared with his family online at www.smithfh.com.

Richard Lee Brignon was born on June 6, 1939, to Ernest and Mary (Turney) Brignon in Grinnell, Iowa. He was raised near Searsboro and graduated from Searsboro High School with the class of 1959. On December 4, 1965, he was united in marriage to Norma Lee Ceaser at the Sheridan United Methodist Church north of Grinnell. The couple was blessed with two daughters, Julie and Vickie, and raised their family in Grinnell.

Following graduation, Richard was a bricklayer on many different jobs throughout the state of Iowa. He honorably served his country in the United States Army from 1962 until 1964 as a sharpshooter in the early Vietnam War period. He was honorably discharged and returned home. He continued working on masonry and construction projects and other odd jobs until 1984. He then began a 25-year career as an over-the-road truck driver and retired from Crete Carrier Corporation of Lincoln, Nebraska, in April of 2009. He enjoyed traveling all over the United States driving truck and got to see a lot of country, extended family, and friends but dearly missed his family at home when he was gone.

Richard's family was his life. He was described by his family as being genuine, loyal, strict, and one who always provided for his family. He was an outdoorsman who enjoyed pheasant and deer hunting, fishing, camping, and riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle. He and Norma greatly enjoyed spending time with friends and going to dances over the years. In the last few years, you could find Richard sitting on the couch with his computer on his lap connecting with friends and family on Facebook and through email or his phone in his hand calling a group of people to meet up for a monthly meal or coffee time, with a jar of peanut M&M's by his side. He also enjoyed watching the Decorah eagles, traffic cameras, and riding out to the annual Sturgis, SD rally on the Harley 19 times with a great group of people alongside. Richard will be remembered for his big smile, long stories, and a great love for his family and friends.

Richard was also a member of the IOOF (Independent Order of Odd Fellows), the Elks Lodge, American Legion, and the Grinnell United Methodist Church.

Richard is survived by his wife of 51 years, Norma L. Brignon of Grinnell; two daughters, Julie (Eugene) VanErsvelde of Grinnell and Vickie (Dan) Bogart of Waterloo; four grandchildren, Josh (Rachel) VanErsvelde, Jason VanErsvelde, and Kaitlyn (Clayton Beck) Van Ersvelde, all of Grinnell, and Braley Bogart of Waterloo; and four great-grandchildren, Harper, Cash, and Witten Van Ersvelde and Bentley Beck, all of Grinnell. He was preceded in death by his parents; his four siblings, Marion Covey, Beverly Davis, Gerald Brignon, and Ralph Brignon; many aunts and uncles; and a grandson, Brady Bogart in 2001.