Richard D. Mead

Richard D. Mead, 65 of 1211 230th St. Nashua, Iowa, died Tuesday, September 9, 2008 at his home.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am, Saturday, September 13, 2008 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Charles City. Officiating will be the Rev. Gary Van Werg. Visitation will be from 4:00 until 8:00 pm, Friday at Fullerton Hage Funeral Home, 401 Blunt, Charles City. Interment will be in Sunnyside Memorial Gardens. Those wishing to contribute a memorial may do so to the Richard D. Mead memorial fund. Thoughts, stories and condolences may be shared with the family on the funeral home website at www.Fullertonfh.com.

Richard was born on January 10, 1943 in Charles City, one of three children to John Gordon "Gordy" and Harriet "Sisson" Mead. He graduated from the Charles City High School with the class of 1961. He had the distinction and current honors of being the first, four year letter winner in wrestling. He was conference champion and went on to state where he beat several other former state champions. His early career was being one of the foundry managers for White farm for 24 years. He then became an equipment operator for Fred Carlson working on road construction. All his life he enjoyed hunting, trapping and fishing with his family. He also found time to find those secret spots for his morel mushrooms. Richard loved to grill and was often in charge of the foundry cookouts cooking half chickens for over 300 of his friends and co-workers. As a fiercely dedicated Vikings fan he was without match. His faithful companion Roscoe the lab/retriever mix was always with him. He passed on his love of wrestling to his sons and would often take Gerad to meets as far away as Kansas and Oklahoma. Richard was united in marriage to Elizabeth "Betty Lence" on January 29, 1964 in Charles City and later was married to Linda Pitz on December 5, 1981 in Nashua, Iowa.

Those left behind to mourn his passing include his five children, Angie "Mead" Tonelli and Gordon Mead both of Charles City; Daniel and Chris Mead both of Greene, and Gerad Mead of St. Paul, Minnesota; along with his six grandchildren Jamie, Brady, Faith, Alex, Jesse, and Ashley and his surviving sister Bev and her husband Mike DeLeeuw, along with numerous friends.

Rich was preceded in death by his parents and one brother Ron Mead.

Fullerton-Hage Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 401 Blunt, Charles City, Iowa 50616 641-228-4211 www.fullertonfh.com