Morrison, Richard Oliver

Richard Oliver Morrison, 81, of Burlington, Iowa, died at his residence on Friday afternoon, Feb. 24, 2012. Funeral Mass will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 29, at St. Paul Catholic Church, Burlington. Father Anthony J. Herold and Father Bruce DeRammelaere will officiate. Special music will be provided by the Des Moines County Resurrection Choir. Interment will be at Burlington Memorial Park Cemetery. Friends may call after 8 a.m. Tuesday at Prugh's Chapel in Burlington, with a Christian wake service at 5 p.m., followed by military rites conducted by the Burlington Area Veterans Honor Guard. The family will receive friends until 8 p.m.

Born Feb. 9, 1931, in Burlington, Iowa, he was the son of George Henry and Dorothy Elizabeth (Daniel) Morrison. He married Geneva Gehringer on Feb. 20, 1954, in Burlington. She died March 23, 2011. Richard graduated from Burlington High School in 1948. He served as a corporal in the U.S. Army with the 2nd Engineer Combat Battalion during the Korean conflict. He was a POW in North Korea for 2 ½ years.

He worked as a tool and die maker at Klein Manufacturing for 13 years and 25 years at General Electric, where he retired.

He was a charter member of the Blackhawk Auto Club, Genealogy Societies of Des Moines County, Iowa, and Harrison County, Mo., and the Historical Societies of Clark County, Mo., and Des Moines County, Iowa.

He was a member of Ss. John & Paul Catholic Church. He enjoyed Burlington history, railroad history, restoring antique autos, and spending time with his cat Oliver. He was a member of the Good Neighbors Club and was chief adviser of the “Reasonables Trivia Team.”

He is survived by four daughters, Lucia (Bob) Moser of Burlington, Rachel (Dave) Kellen of Burlington, Sarah (Terrence) Manning of West Burlington and Lorena (Bill) Leferink of Cedar Rapids; three sons, Robert (Jackie) Morrison of Stronghurst, Ill., Matthew (Jennifer) Morrison of Burlington and Charles (Wendy) Morrison of Lincoln, Neb.; two sisters, Marianne (Nathan) Parrott and Beverly (Richard) Koch of Burlington; 24 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; one brother, Daniel; and one sister, Gloria Cable.

Memorials have been established for Great River Hospice, Ss. John & Paul Catholic Church and the Des Moines County Historical Society.

Published Feb. 26, 2012 in The Gazette