Park, Richard "Dick" R. 1938-2012

PARK, HICKERSON, ROWE, CUPACH, KRUSE, FARRELL

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 7/5/2024 at 18:24:58

Richard R. “Dick” Park
BIRTH
1 Oct 1938
Centerville, Appanoose County, Iowa, USA
DEATH
23 Feb 2012 (aged 73)
Georgetown, Williamson County, Texas, USA
BURIAL
Church of the Resurrection Memorial Garden
Leawood, Johnson County, Kansas, USA
MEMORIAL ID
86034278 · View Source
MEMORIAL
PHOTOS 1
FLOWERS 0
Richard R. "Dick" Park, 73, of Overland Park, Kan., and Georgetown, Texas, died Feb. 23, 2012.
Visitation will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March 3, at Church of the Resurrection, 13720 Roe Ave., Leawood, Kan., in the Wesley Chapel (east building), with memorial services to follow at 11 a.m. Private interment will be in the Church of the Resurrection Memorial Garden.
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Richard R. Park, 73, of Overland Park, Kansas, and Georgetown, Texas, entered into eternal rest with his Heavenly Father on February 23, 2012. He passed away with his beloved family by his side in Georgetown, Texas, due to complications from pulmonary fibrosis.

Richard was born in Centerville, Iowa, on October 1, 1938, the first born child of Zellan H. and Alice M. (Hickerson) Park. He was raised in Seymour, Iowa, where he attended elementary and high school, graduating with the class of 1956. He then attended the University of Iowa and was a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Graduate School of Banking.

In the summer of 1959, Richard met the love of his life, Carol Rowe, in Estes Park, Colorado, while they were both working summer jobs. They were married on August, 13, 1960, in Bazine, Kansas. They were blessed with three children, David, Robin and Tracy.

He cherished life, family and friends and loved to talk of his childhood and growing up in Seymour, Iowa, where he made lifelong friends. He considered it a blessing to go to a school where he could participate in band, football, baseball, basketball and track. His love of sports never waned and carried over into his young adult life to the officiating of football and basketball at the high school and junior college level.

Richard and Carol made their home in Denver, Colorado, until 1961 when, due to the unexpected death of his father, they returned to Seymour, Iowa, to assist his mother in liquidating the family Chrysler-Plymouth dealership. During this time, he developed a close relationship with Wilson Ervin, a Centerville, Iowa, banker who offered him his first job in banking at Centerville National Bank after the dealership was liquidated. This began a 46-year banking career. Richard developed a special expertise for turning around problem banks and this led to subsequent jobs in Oelwein, Iowa; Bethany, Missouri; Russell, Kansas; Horton, Kansas; Brownsville, Texas and finally in Garner, Iowa.

Upon the sale of his last bank, Richard and Carol moved to Overland Park, Kansas, to be nearer family. Not cut out for retirement, he started a part-time position working with BPS Capital, a bank investment consulting firm located in Bloomington, Minnesota. He considered the President, Mike McLaren, a dear friend and appreciated the opportunity to work for BPS where he was still employed at the time of his death.

The move to Kansas brought him great joy as he was deeply involved in his grandchildrens' activities. As their biggest fan, if he was in town, he never missed a sporting event or concert and he enjoyed taking his children and grandchildren to many Chiefs games and other events. In 2006, Richard and Carol started wintering in Georgetown, Texas, where they resided at the time of his death.

Richard was a member of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection; Za-Ga-Zig Shrine; Jackson Masonic Lodge #42 in Centerville, Iowa; San Gabriel Masonic Lodge #89 in Georgetown, Texas; The Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, York Rite Bodies; Elks Lodge #2395, Overland Park, Kansas; Rotary Club; and Lions Club. He was honored to serve on the Legislative Committee and the Board of Directors of the Iowa Bankers Association from 1995-1998. Richard served as Pancake Day Chairman in 1971. He was one of the founders of the Southeastern Iowa Chapter of the Bank Administration Institute and was named outstanding banker of that chapter in 1977. He served on the Board of Directors of the North Iowa Red Cross and was named most outstanding member of that organization in 2000. Wherever he lived, he worked tirelessly for any project or endeavor he thought would better his community.

Along with his wife, Carol, he loved to travel during his semi-retirement. They were fortunate to create wonderful memories as they traveled the world. He enjoyed many activities including golf, where he was a member of the Hole-In-One Club, and a good game of bridge with friends.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Carol; children David Park, Overland Park, Kansas; Robin (Paul) Cupach, Overland Park, Kansas; and Tracy Kruse, Leawood, Kansas; and grandchildren, Rachael and Ellaina Park; Jack, Harry and Emma Farrell; Katie, Molly, Alison and Hunter Kruse; and brother, Roger Park, Jacksonville, Florida.

He was preceded in death his parents, Zell and Alice Park, parents-in-law, Harry and Carrie Rowe and son-in-law, Max Kruse.

Visitation will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March 3, 2012, at Church of the Resurrection, 13720 Roe Avenue, Leawood, Kansas, in the Wesley Chapel (east building), with memorial services to follow at 11:00 a.m. Private interment will be in the Church of the Resurrection Memorial Garden.
Bio by: Vernon Gibbons ~ Find A Grave and The Des Moines (IA) Register 07 March 2012.