John Wesley Richards, age 85, of Coon Rapids, IA, passed away surrounded by family at his home on Monday, March 27, 2023.
A memorial service will be held at 11 A.M. on Saturday, April 1, 2023, at the First Christian Church in Coon Rapids with Kiane Goebel, minister, officiating followed by a Masonic Memorial Service. There will be no visitation prior to the service; all are welcome at a luncheon in the west room of the Coon Rapids American Legion to eat, drink and share memories following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Main Street Coon Rapids Project (mailed to 406 Main St. Coon Rapids, IA 50058), the Signet Lodge of Carroll (P.O. Box 251 Carroll, IA 51401) or First Christian Church of Coon Rapids (220 Elm St. Coon Rapids, IA 50058).
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Coon Rapids and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com
John was born on January 18, 1938, in Shenandoah, IA, the son of Wesley Supplee and Ethel Irene (McAdoo) Richards. He grew up in Northboro, IA, where he graduated from high school in 1956. He was married to Ruth Elizabeth Hardy on July 21, 1958, at the Northboro United Methodist Church. John worked for the Northboro Lumber Yard and farmed with his father-in-law. He then worked for Murphy’s Standard and Lyle’s Skelly in Shenandoah before moving to Coon Rapids in 1963 to work for Pioneer Seeds. In 1969, the family moved to Garden City, KS, where John was the assistant plant manager for the new Pioneer Seed plant. They moved back to Coon Rapids in 1986 and John retired from ICI Seeds in 2005. He was a member of the First Christian Church in Coon Rapids, Coon Rapids Masonic Lodge, and currently a member of Signet Lodge A.F. and A.M. in Carroll. John enjoyed camping, riding motorcycles, traveling the country, and spending time with his family. John and Ruth spent winters in Yuma, AZ, for several years.
John is survived by his wife Ruth of Coon Rapids; his daughter Debbie LaVoie (Craig) of Cincinnati, OH; a son Carl Richards (Debbie) of Garden Plain, KS; five grandchildren: Jackie Cooper (Casey), Justin LaVoie, Jeffrey LaVoie (Kristen), Heather Lockwood (Ethan), and Courtney Richards; two great-grandchildren: Dominic and Carson; two sisters-in-law: Margaret Ireland (John) of Bullhead City, AZ, and Jane Lutz (Butch) of Rockport, MO; two brothers-in-law: Edwin Henry of Indianola and Warren Tiemann of Tarkio, MO; and several nieces and nephews.
John was preceded in death by his parents Wesley and Irene Richards; his father and mother-in-law John and Mary Hardy; four brothers: Morris Richards (Helen), Warren Richards (Ruth), Clarence Richards (Clarice), and Ross Richards (Phyllis); two sisters: Ruth Henry and Mary Tiemann; and a brother-in-law John “Sonny” Hardy (Judy).
