Richard Peterson

RICHARD "RICH" PETERSON

North Liberty

Richard "Rich" Peterson, 74, of North Liberty, died Saturday, April 30. 2016, surrounded by his loving family.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 4, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Coralville. Burial will be at Ridgewood Cemetery, North Liberty. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 3, at the Lensing Oak Hill Funeral Home, 210 Holiday Rd., Coralville. A vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, followed by the recitation of the Rosary. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Richard Peterson Memorial Fund.

Rich was born Dec. 22, 1941, on a farm near Rolfe, Iowa, the son of Eldor and Alvina (Lang) Peterson. He graduated from Pocahontas Catholic School and later earned an Associate Degree in electronics. He worked 41 years for Rural Electric Cooperatives before retiring in 2005 as manager of marketing for Central Iowa Power Cooperative in Cedar Rapids. Rich married Judy Thoma of Pocahontas, Iowa, and they had six children together. In 1995, he married Annette Richard of Dyersville, Iowa, and they shared 13 years before she passed away. On July 30, 2011, he married Darlene Philips, and they retired in North Liberty. They enjoyed traveling, ballroom dancing, playing cards and especially visiting their children and grandchildren.

He was a member of the St. Thomas More Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus in Coralville. He served as a Stephen Minister, Lay Leader of Prayer, beginning experience team trainer and scoutmaster. He enjoyed weekly study with his Faith Formation and Homily groups. Rich loved being around his grandkids and liked watching them participate in sports and other activities. He enjoyed making his favorite homemade "five chocolate chip" cookies for family gatherings. Rich liked designing homes, was an avid woodworker and made lots of toys for his grandkids. He enjoyed photography, ballroom dancing, collecting model cars and taking trips to the mountains. A special joy was a trip with his wife, Darlene, to visit Italy and attend Sunday Mass at the Vatican in Rome.

Survivors include his loving wife, Darlene; son, Scott of Cedar Rapids; daughters, Susan (Dick) Briggs of Cedar Rapids, Cathy (Terry) Krapfl of Indianola, Jill (Dave) Fauver of Independence, Jeanne (Brant) Luebbe of Grand Island, Neb., and Jodi (Mark) Lockwood of Dubuque; stepdaughter, Lena (Brian) Peterson; grandchildren, Kyle, Lauren, Casey, Joe, Ben, Tom, Courtney, Kayla, Megan, Owen, Elizabeth, John, Peter, Rebecca and Mary; five great-grandsons; sisters, Donna (Lester) Bunda of Pocahontas, Iowa, and Linda (Dean) Gottsch of O'Fallon, Mo.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Annette; parents; and an infant brother and sister.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.lensingfuneral.com.