Richard Carl 'Dick' Scheit

RICHARD CARL "DICK" SCHEIT

West Branch

Richard Carl (Dick) Scheit, 81, passed away on Feb. 17, 2022, in Seguin, Texas, due to complications from COVID-19. His children were by his side.

Dick was born in Milwaukee, Wis., on Nov. 14, 1940, to Carl and Vieda (Stiemke) Scheit. He was the middle child of three siblings and the only boy. Dick spent much of his childhood on the dairy farm of his maternal grandparents near Sullivan and graduated from Oconomowoc High School in 1958. He was a student at the Milwaukee Institute of Technology, before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force serving stateside with a focus on communications, surveillance and radar technology.

After the Air Force, Dick relocated to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he was employed at Northwestern Bell. During this time, he met his future wife, Pat, while dancing at the Armar Ballroom in Marion. They were united in marriage on June 7, 1969. Dick's career continued at South Slope Telco and later at West Branch Telco. Dick and Pat raised two children together in West Branch until Pat's untimely passing in 1988.

After Pat's death, Dick's workplace opportunities shifted. He spent time traveling throughout Iowa and parts of the Upper Midwest upgrading telephone plant equipment which was a segue into his mobile lifestyle. While Dick's mantra became "home is where the RV is parked," his chosen home became Texas. Over the years, he helped his childhood friend at his small business, and he worked short-term security jobs, monitoring construction sites overnight. Dick also returned to his interest in radio technology, investing in ham radio equipment both as a hobby and as a volunteer to assist with emergency response coordination including Bike MS Texas and the Red Cross.

His pastimes included his enjoyment of genealogical research helping to connect his family to their direct lineage in Germany. And, as most of his friends and family know, dancing was Dick's passion. He found an interconnected community and a widespread friend group across the country through dancing. Within the past year, Dick also found a connection of hearts with his dear friend, Margaret Harris.

Dick is survived by his son, Carl, daughter-in-law, Tikvah, granddaughter, Sam, Kent, Wash.; his daughter, Jennifer, Eugene, Ore.; sister, Carolyn (James) Vaughan; treasured nieces, nephews, great-nieces and -nephews, and many cousins; and a beloved community of extended family and friends across the country and several continents.

Dick was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Leigh (Pat) Scheit; granddaughter, Avery Noelle; grandson, Kieran Carl Allen; sister, Janet (Thomas) Luethy; his parents; three nephews; several cherished in-laws; and other loved family members.

A funeral service will be held at noon April 9, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 2301 East Court St., Iowa City, preceded by a visitation. For family and friends unable to attend, the service will be streamed on the church's YouTube channel. Henderson-Barker Funeral Home, West Branch.