Richard Lee Whitlatch was born February 25, 1942 in Columbia, Iowa the son of Kenneth and Francis (Goemaat) Whitlatch.
Richard graduated from Knoxville High School with the Class of 1960. Following high school he worked at the co-op. On April 7, 1963 Richard was united in marriage to Loretta Irene Hartness at the Eden Church west of Knoxville. He worked shelling corn with his father-in-law for several years. Richard then worked as a tool and die engineer for Vermeer for 47 ½ years prior to his retirement. He worked in plant 1 for his entire career at Vermeer. In his spare time, Richard enjoyed spending time with his family, traveling, his horses, working in his shop and attending the Knoxville races.
Richard passed away Tuesday, April 10, 2018 at the Pella Regional Health Center at the age of 76 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Those left to cherish Richard’s memory include his wife, Loretta; daughters: Christine (Daryl) DeMoss of Knoxville and Lynelle (David) Conway of Mound, MN; grandchildren: Cheyenne (Frank, Jr.) Mathias, Grace Conway and Derrick Six; great-grandchild, Fawkes Mathias; siblings: Dorothy (Richard) Kindley of Knoxville, Doris (Gary) Thompson of Newton and Robert (Edna) Whitlatch of Knoxville and many other family members and friends.
Funeral Service
Bybee & Davis Funeral Home – Knoxville, Iowa
Saturday, April 14, 2018 at 11:00 a.m.
Pastor Brent Hanna, Officiating
Musical Selections
“Amazing Grace”
”Go Rest High on that Mountain”
“How Great Thou Art”
Katie Spriggs, Vocalist
Casket Bearers
Rick Kindley Kevin Jones
Les Nieuwsma Steve Binns
Randy Descamps Arlen Phillips
Interment
Graceland Cemetery – Knoxville, Iowa
For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to The ALS Association Iowa Chapter or to the Knoxville Public Library.
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