Richard Harris

Richard Harris

Hopkinton

Richard Harris, 86, of Hopkinton, died Monday, July 3, 2023, at Regional Medical Center in Manchester.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, July 8, 2023, at the Hopkinton Community Church. The family will greet friends from 10 a.m. to noon at the church. Funeral Services will begin at 12:30 p.m. with Pastors Cheryl Gates, Jan Lamont, and Kathy Pounds will officiate. Lunch will be served after. Burial, on a later date, will be in the Hopkinton Cemetery. Please visit Goettschonline.com to share your thoughts, memories and condolences with Richard’s family.

Richard Henry Harris was born on May 24, 1937, in Prairie Du Chien, Wis., the son of Louis and Florence (Henry) Harris. He grew up in Giard, Iowa, and would later graduate from Mar Mac High School in the Class of 1955. Following high school, he worked at various companies including Collins Radio, the Chicago Northwestern railroad, REM Electric, Dircks LP Gas and as an electrician in the Maquoketa area.

On May 25, 1957, he married Leola Kay Dietz, and the couple briefly moved to Chicago, where Richard was attending Coyne Electrical College. After graduation the couple returned to Elwood, Iowa, for a time before eventually settling in Hopkinton in 1961. In 1966, along with his wife, he opened Harris Electric, which he operated, with the help of Kay, until his passing.

As a young man he enjoyed hunting, fishing and trapping. He played the trumpet in high school and would later continue to do so in a band in Cedar Rapids. He served on the board of directors of the Hopkinton Municipal Utilities for 18 years and had a lifelong commitment to the church. He also served as a volunteer fireman for the Hopkinton Fire Department. He will be remembered as a good example of what a person should be – honest, hard-working, and loyal with an unmatched work ethic. He taught and mentored many employees and family members in how to live their personal and professional lives in that same way. He dearly loved to spend time with his family and friends.

He is remembered by his wife of 66 years, Kay; his children, Mark (Kathy) of Earlville, Mary (Karl) Wendt of Hopkinton and David (Roberta) of Westcliffe, Colo.; grandchildren, Jacob, Beth, Amanda, Abbie, Sheena, Aaron, Colin and Gage; 10 great-grandchildren; and brothers, Robert of Prairie Du Chien and Ronald of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Jackie and Kenny Fischer; and sisters-in-law, Sharon Harris and Peggy Harris.

In memory of Richard, memorial donations can be made to Hopkinton Community Church or the Hopkinton Ambulance Service Organization, P.O. Box 268 Hopkinton, IA 52237.