Harger, Richard 'Dick' E.

Richard “Dick” E. Harger, 83, of Ely, died Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013, at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, at First Presbyterian Church near Ely. Burial will follow in the First Presbyterian Church Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Brosh Chapel in Cedar Rapids, located at 2121 Bowling St. SW.

Dick was born Aug. 11, 1930, in Cedar Rapids, the son of H. Dean and Dorothy B. (Hout) Harger. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1949. Dick married Dorathy Rudolph Harger on Dec. 30, 1950, at Olivet Presbyterian Church in Cedar Rapids. He proudly served his country in the United States Army during the Korean conflict. Dick worked at Boeing and Cessna Aircraft companies in Wichita, Kan. Upon returning to Iowa, Dick worked for Allied Construction Co. before opening his own business, Harger's Acoustics Inc. in Ely. While working for Allied Construction, Dick and Dorathy owned and operated The Last Frontier on Ely Road.

Dick served on the College Community school board for nine years. He was a member of the All-Iowa Fair board, Hanford American Legion and later the Ely American Legion, Ely Town and Country Club, Rotary West, as well as numerous civic and social organizations. Dick was an active, longtime member of the First Presbyterian Church near Ely. In 1989, through Rotary Club of Iowa City, Dick and Dorathy donated two fire trucks to Guatemala City, Guatemala.

Dick is survived by his beloved wife of 62 years, Dorathy; his children, K. Kay Aldun of Georgetown, Texas, Kathy (KC) Waychoff of Fairfax and Kelly (Randy) Zbanek of Ely; five grandchildren Marcus (Jenny) Hayes of Marion, Ben Waychoff of Orlando, Fla., Elise Waychoff of Philadelphia, Pa., Kami Zbanek (fiance John Hill) of Ely and Kassi (fiance Will Tuthill) of Atalissa; and great-grandsons, Cian Hayes and Lochlann “Lucky” Hayes of Marion. Also surviving Dick are his sister, Bette Siglin of California; a sister-in-law, Carolyn Harger of Florida; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Preceding Dick in death were his parents; a brother, Bob Harger; sister, Jean (John) Stearns; and brother-in-law, Paul Siglin.

Dick was loved by a multitude of good friends. He joins his friends who have already passed and will always be with the ones who remain.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff at Mercy Medical Center and the medical community that provided Dick's care for the past few years. Special thanks for the loving care from Nickie Burgoon and Lesta Perkins.

Memorials may be directed to the Ely Fire Department or the Youth Group at First Presbyterian Church near Ely.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.broshchapel.com.

Published Aug. 23, 2013 in The Gazette