Richard Herbert Seliger (1931-2007)

SELINGER, CRAWFORD, STREET, MILLER, HOUTS

Posted By: Ames Tribune
Date: 10/3/2007 at 18:55:00

AMES TRIBUNE, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Wednesday, October 3, 2007.

May 17, 1931-Sept. 21, 2007

Richard Herbert Seliger, of Corpus Christi, Texas, died Friday, Sept. 21, in Corpus Christi, of complications after surgery. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12, at United Methodist Faith Chapel on Sixth Avenue in Saylorville. A reception will be until 6 p.m. at the church.

Richard Herbert Seliger was born May 17, 1931, in Sigourney, to Herbert and Elizabeth Seliger. He met Jean Crawford in high school. They were married for 50 years and raised three children. He shared many of the things in life he loved with his children. He was a Boy Scout leader with his oldest son, Steven. He taught his children how to camp, boat, fish and water ski. He passed on his love of animals, and the family was not complete without multiple dogs and cats.

He was a toolmaker. It was always said there wasn't anything he couldn't fix, even if he had to design and make the part to fix it. He worked for many years at Fisher Company in Marshalltown and for the Atomic Energy Commission in Ames, where he contributed to contract work for such companies as NASA. After leaving the industry, he took over as department head of the tool and die program at Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny. He loved to teach and took great pride in helping his students become exceptional workers in the field. One of his favorite sayings was "the impossible just takes a little longer."

He retired in 1989 and moved to Corpus Christi, Texas. He worked part time with his long-time friend, Vern, remodeling houses. He bought a scroll saw and began making beautiful wood pieces. He also spent long days at the beach soaking up the sun, sand and the ocean. This was his element. He moved back to Iowa after his wife, Jean, was diagnosed with cancer. She died in 2001. After some time, he then began his second life with his new life partner, Linda Houts. They relocated back to Corpus Christi and built a beautiful house on Padre Island. He became more active with his woodworking and took great pleasure in giving many of the pieces away to people who crossed his life. It could be said that he never met a stranger. He was a generous man who will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his oldest son, Steve Seliger and wife, Vickie, of Ames; daughter, Deb Street and husband, Wolf, of Lewiston, Idaho; son, Joe Seliger and his wife, Connie, of Des Moines; one sister, Willa Miller, of Brevard, N.C.; life partner, Linda Houts, of Corpus Christi; and several grandchildren.

It is requested that any donations be directed to Central Iowa Hospice or to your local chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

Cage Mills Funeral Directors of Corpus Christi, Texas, is in charge of arrangements.

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