Blanchard, Richard L. 'Dick'

Richard L. “Dick” Blanchard was born on a farm just outside of Wapello, Iowa on Dec. 16, 1924. He was the youngest of 10 children born to Charles C. (Olive M. Fitzsimmons) Blanchard. He died Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at The Kirkwood Room at Governors Ridge, 521 Kirkwood Ave., Iowa City, next door to Lensing Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Cedar Hills Community Church, 6455 E Ave NW, Cedar Rapids.

 In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Iowa City Senior Center or Cedar Hills Community Church.

Dick raised purebred Angus while attending and graduating from Wapello High School. He was then called to serve in the Second World War. He joined the paratroopers and was ready to go overseas when he was injured on his last jump.

After the service he went to auctioneering school and then to Burlington Junior College. He married Rae Daniels on Aug. 19, 1950, and moved to Wilton, where he worked in the cheese factory. In December 1951, he and Rae moved to Iowa City. He attended the University of Iowa and then worked at the Veterans Hospital in the Nuclear Medicine Department until he retired in 1983. After retirement Dick and Rae volunteered at the Iowa City Senior Center with Meals On Wheels and in the kitchen. They also were very active in church activities.

Dick is survived by his loving wife, Rae; and four children, Bill of Iowa City, Tom of Iowa City, Becky Jensen (Mark McDowell) of Cedar Rapids and Cal (Joey) of St. Paul, Minn. Also surviving are grandchildren, Chaim, Sol, Terra, Andre, Amber, Erin, Molly, Tom and Kristin; and great-grandchildren, Dalen, Mayah, Ellianna and Kingston.

Dick was preceded in death by his mother and father and nine brothers and sisters.

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