Richtsmeier, Richard "Dick" Marlyn 1943-2025

RICHTSMEIER, MILLER, CORSON

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 12/10/2025 at 12:19:56

Richard "Dick" Marlyn Richtsmeier
February 7, 1943 ~ December 7, 2025 (age 82)

Richard “Dick” Marlyn Richtsmeier Sr., 82, peacefully passed away on Sunday, December 8, 2025, at Valley Vista for Nursing and Rehab in Newton with loved ones by his side.

Dick was born on February 7, 1943, in Bradford, Iowa to William and Wilma (Miller) Richtsmeier. He was the second of four sons. Growing up, his brothers were his built-in best friends, hunting and fishing together, and working on their family farm tending to pigs, cows, and chickens. He attended the (now historic landmark) Maysville one room schoolhouse in Bradford until third grade. He then went to Geneva schools until age 15, when the family sold their farm and moved to Oelwein, IA. Dick graduated from Oelwein high school in 1961. He participated in basketball, wrestling, band, and FFA. He worked at Baum’s Clothing store his senior year and also worked for his father’s small construction company. Working alongside his dad sparked his passion for carpentry.

Following graduation, he continued to work for his dad and would go with his brothers over to the skating rink in Independence on Friday and Saturday nights. One night, in the Spring of 1963, when it was time for the ladies’ choice skate, Dick was asked by a beautiful brunette to join her. Her name was Loretta. Their love blossomed quickly, and they were married on December 20th of that same year at the Pine Creek Baptist Church in Loretta’s hometown of Quasqueton, Iowa.

After their marriage, he and Loretta had three sons (Bill, Rich, & Tim). They lived in Waterloo where he was a homebuilder and even built their family home. The family moved to Newton in 1978 to be closer to his mom and brother, Jim. After moving to Newton, Dick worked in the Des Moines area as a carpenter superintendent for numerous commercial construction companies until he fully retired in 2008.

Family was always the most important thing to Dick. He loved all of his grandchildren (Travis, Gage, Danielle, Alec, Ashton, Amanda, Marissa, Derek, Mason) and was one of their biggest supporters in all that they did. He especially enjoyed attending their many sporting events and dance recitals over the years. He also loved and considered their spouses as his own and was excited to welcome many great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

After retiring, Dick filled his time with many hobbies. He was a skilled woodworker and made a multitude of beautiful pieces of furniture for his family. He even assisted two of his sons in building their homes. He was an avid fisherman and truly enjoyed the time spent with his family on numerous camping and fishing trips, Rock Creek being one of his favorites. He especially enjoyed the time spent traveling across the Midwest with his son Rich out on the bass boat every weekend. Dick was also a very talented artist and painted hundreds of cavasses, including childhood memories and portraits of his loved ones. In his remaining free time, he tended to his flowers and fed the neighborhood squirrels. Growing flowers from seed to plant was one of his passions that he lovingly shared with his daughter in law, Julie.

Those left to honor Dick’s memory include: his two sons, Rich (Julie, who he loved like his own daughter), Tim (Angie), his many grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, sisters- in-law, and nieces and nephews; all of whom he adored.

Many were waiting to welcome Dick into heaven. Loretta, his wife, welcomes him to celebrate their 62nd anniversary on December 20th. He is also reuniting with his son Bill, his mom, his dad, his stepdad, his three brothers (Bill, Jim, & Jerry), his beloved granddaughter Danielle, and his brother and sister-in-law Don and Dianna Corson.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Valley Vista Rehab of Newton for helping them care for Dick over the past year. They would also like to thank Anna and Lora of Wesley Hospice for making his final months comfortable.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Richard "Dick" Marlyn Richtsmeier, please visit our floral store.

Services
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Tribute Wall ~ The Wallace Family Funeral Home, Newton, Iowa 07 December 2025.