Richard 'Dick' Harrison

RICHARD "DICK" HARRISON

Cedar Rapids

Richard "Dick" Harrison, 86, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids after a short illness. An inurnment service will take place at New Windsor Cemetery in New Windsor, Ill., at

a later date. Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids, assisted the family.

Dick was born in Centralia, Ill., on April 19, 1935, the son of Allan and Dorothy Harrison. He graduated from Peoria Central High School and the University of Illinois with a B.S. in Economics. He married Kay Streeter on July 2, 1963, and worked for Traveler's Insurance Company and later for Cincinnati Financial Insurance as a regional sales director, until he retired in 2000.

Dick was a member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church and was active in Linn County Master Gardeners and the American Hosta Society. He was a civil-war history buff who could not drive by a historical marker or battlefield without stopping to learn more. And he faithfully cheered on the Chicago Bears and his Fighting Illini.

But Dick will also be remembered for his life-long love of gardening and encyclopedic knowledge of the outdoors. He shared this love with Kay as they gardened together for 58 years. Dick had a laugh that could fill the room with warmth and comfort, never failing to put a smile on everyone's faces. You could count on Dick for a good story or to make a funny connection with something from his vast memory banks. All in all, he was a kind, smart, gentle, selfless person, who saw the beauty in things, from plants and birds, to delicious food and a good joke … truly "Mr. Wonderful." He will be dearly missed by his family and friends.

Survivors include his wife, Kay Streeter-Harrison of Cedar Rapids; children, Amy (Mark) Butz of Cedar Rapids and Rick (Roxanne) Harrison of Aptos, Calif.; grandchildren, Sam, Tom, Anna and John Butz and Grace and Lily Harrison; great-grandchildren, Ada, Raylan, Noah and Maya Butz; siblings, Lynne (Randy) Siron and Stuart (Michaeline) Harrison; and brother-in-law, Harry Brehm.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Peggy Brehm.

Memorials may be directed to Linn County Master Gardeners, 383 Collins Rd. SE, Suite 201, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402.

Please share a memory of Dick at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.