Allen Rich, Jr., 81, of Mt. Pleasant, died Tuesday, February 11, 2014 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
A funeral service for Allen Rich will be held at 10:30 AM on Monday, February 17 at the First United Methodist Church, 309 North Main Street, Mt. Pleasant. The Reverend Deborah J. Stowers, Sr. Pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in the Forest Home Cemetery, Mt. Pleasant, with military honors conducted by the Henry County Honor Guard. Friends may callSaturday from 10 am to noon and from 12 Noon to 9:00 PM on Sunday at the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 North Main Street, Mt. Pleasant. The family will be present to receive friends from 3-6 PM Sunday afternoon.
Those considering an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the First United Methodist Church or the Green Mound Cemetery Association. Online condolences may be left at www.kimzeyfuneralhome.com
Allen Rich, Jr. was born March 20, 1932 on the family farm, rural Wayland, Iowa. He was the son of Allen R. Rich, Sr. and Alice A. (nee Smith) Rich. His mother passed away when he was five years old. He then was raised by his father and step mother, Mable (nee Buck) Rich. Allen attended the Elm Country School and graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School in 1950. On December 11, 1955 at the former Beulah Methodist Church northeast of Mt. Pleasant, Allen was united in marriage to Yvonne Smith.
After his high school graduation, Allen worked as a carpenter for his uncles, Melvin and Francis Smith. During that time, Allen enlisted with the National Guard. His time in the guard led him to enlist in the United States Army in 1955. He was honorably discharged in 1957, and moved to Cedar Rapids as a carpenter. In 1957, he bought his grandparents farm and began a career in farming alongside his carpentry profession for the H. Eugene Smith Construction Company. In 1969, Allen began the Allen Rich Construction Company. He moved to Mt. Pleasant in 1971 where he continued both the farming and construction operations. He remained active in both until his health prevented him from doing so only a couple of months ago.
Allen was a member of the First United Methodist Church where he served two terms on the Board of Trustees. He was the current President of the Green Mound Cemetery Association and a past President of the Construction Board of Appeals for the city of Mt. Pleasant. He was a member of the Henry County Cattlemen’s Association and the Am-Vets Post of Henry County. In his spare time, he tended to a watermelon patch which was his pride and joy in later years. He loved to spend time with his grandchildren and attending their many activities.
Those thankful for sharing in Allen’s life include his wife of 58 years, Yvonne of Mt. Pleasant; 3 children and their spouses – Tammy & Randy Detrick and Ann & Rick Sartorius, all of Mt. Pleasant and Jeff & Linda Rich of Wayland, IA; 2 brothers and their wives – Harold & Lois Rich of Eldon, MO and Dwight & Joanne Rich of Visalia, CA; 2 sisters – Delores Scarff of Lake of the Ozarks, MO and Eloise Eland and her husband Calvin of Eau Claire, WI; 8 grandchildren – Kathie Detrick, Jessica, Mackenzie and Brady Sartorius, Denny (Dustin Roth) Rich, Joe (Cassie) Rich, Julie (Matt) Fitzpatrick and Jill (Dakoda) Parker; 4 great grandchildren – Gus James, Deegan Parker, Huxton Rich and Adalynn Fitzpatrick.
His mother, father, step-mother, 2 sisters in infancy and a brother-in-law, Glenn Scarff precede Allen in death.