Richard "Rich" Hicks Obituary

​     Richard "Rich" Hicks, 88, of Denver, died Thursday, March 20, 2025, at the Denver Sunset Home in Denver.    
     Rich was born August 3, 1936, in Grinnell, Iowa, the son of Clifford and Byrdie (Byers) Hicks. In 1955, he entered the United States Army where he served on the east coast at the Nike Missile Base, Chesapeake Bay, Maryland. While on leave he married Beverly Johnston in Montezuma, Iowa, on October 16, 1955. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1957.  He graduated from Iowa State University in 1964 with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. He then went to work for Rockwell Collins, Schumacher Elevator and retired from John Deere in 1998.
     Rich was a longtime member of Saint Paul United Church of Christ in Denver where he sang in the church choir. He was a member of the Acker-Matthias Legion Post #653 in Denver for many years. Rich served on the Hawkeye Community College Advisory Council for Engineering. He loved to tinker with all sorts of electronic gadgets and could often be found fixing or inventing things. He loved the outdoors, especially fishing, boating and camping. He was famous for his story telling, pranking his grandsons and being extra sweet to his granddaughters. His greatest joy in life came from his family, he especially liked attending and supporting his grandchildren at their events.
     Rich is survived by his wife, Beverly, four children; Brenda (Keith) Heidemann of Denver, Nancy (Craig) Smolley of Wyoming, MN, Tom (Tammy) Hicks of Denver and Kari (Brent) Matthias of Indianola, 12 grandchildren: Shane (Jessie) Heidemann, Jason Heidemann, Jeremy (Bethany) Heidemann, Stacey Larsen, Erica (Bryce) Siemback, Danielle Hicks, Joseph Hicks, Reece Harrenstein, Brenden Matthias, Kali Matthias, Kira Matthias and Keela Matthias, ten great grandchildren, one sister, Harriett Norem of Iowa Falls and a sister-in-law, Lee Hicks of Port St. Lucie, FL. He is preceded in death by his parents, and a brother, Stanley Hicks.
     Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Saint Paul United Church of Christ in Denver. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, March 28, at the church with a visitation one hour prior. The service will be livestreamed on the Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home YouTube page. Burial with military rites will be held in the Fairview Cemetery in Denver by the Acker-Matthias American Legion Post #653. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family for a later designation. Online condolences may be left at kaisercorson.com.
     Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home in Denver is in charge of arrangements. 319-352-1187