Richard (Dick) Huinker

RICHARD (DICK) JOSEPH HUINKER

Monona

Richard (Dick) Joseph Huinker, 71, of Monona, died Monday, Aug. 6, 2018, after a lengthy battle with congestive heart failure.

He was born Oct. 27, 1946, to Irvin and Stella (Tepesch) Huinker, in Postville, the oldest of four kids. He was both baptized and confirmed at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Monona, where he continued to be an active member the rest of his life. Dick graduated high school from MFL and later attended Coleman Institute in La Crosse, Wis., where he studied auto mechanics. If you could get it out of him, he would admit that after 6 months, he was told by the instructors that he should be the one teaching classes, not the other way around, and so he returned to Iowa.

After leaving school, Dick was united in marriage to the love of his life, Doralee Bollman, on Sept. 29, 1965, in Caledonia, Minn. Over the course of the next 17 years, they were blessed with three wonderful children and one little brat. No pointing fingers at who the brat is.

Dick started his career as an auto mechanic in Waukon and later moved to Monona to sell cars at Huinker Chevrolet. One of Dick's proudest moments was becoming a third-generation owner of Huinker Chevrolet with his purchase in 1992 from his dad and uncles. If you look closely, you might still see vehicles with the Huinker Chevrolet logo on them.

While the dealership was a fixture in his life, Dick made time for many other interests. He loved to golf, fish, play cards and travel with his family and friends. Later in life, he crossed off one of his "bucket list" items by purchasing a classic car from a Barrett-Jackson auction.

One thing that you might not know about Dick was that he was an incredible teacher. He could teach you about almost anything, but most importantly, he taught us how to give. Don't be fooled, though; whenever Dick gave, he received more in return as one of his top joys in life was seeing a genuine look of surprise and appreciation on a recipient's face.

Dick and Doralee were blessed with 14 years of retirement together, where they loved spending their days traveling, going for rides, enjoying meals, arguing over the thermostat, and most importantly, spending time with their 10 grandchildren. Dick loved his grandchildren very much, often saying in his last months how much joy they brought him despite his worsening circumstances.

Dick is survived by his mother, Stella Huinker of Monona; his loving wife of 52-plus years, Doralee Huinker of Monona; his four children, Wendy (Patrick) Vance of Dubuque, Kevin Huinker (Jackie Schiffler) of Monona, Eric (Jennifer) Huinker of Grimes and Ryan (Jamie) Huinker of West Des Moines; his 10 grandchildren, Greg, Whitney, Bailey and Macy Vance, Devin and Storm Huinker, Kaylee and Allen Huinker and Dawson and Cole Huinker; and siblings, Mary Lou (James) Henkes of Monona, Ann (Ken) Keehner of Farmersburg and Robert (Renae) Huinker of Lawler.

He was preceded in death by his hero, role model, friend and father, Irvin Huinker, who passed away in 1998.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 8, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Monona. There will also be a one-hour visitation before Mass on Thursday at the church. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 9, at the church with the Rev. Nils de Jesus Hernandez as celebrant. Burial will follow at St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery, Monona.

Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Monona, is helping the family with arrangements.