Richard “Rick” Dawson, age 59, of Nevada, Iowa, died Wednesday, March 14, 2018, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, April 9, 2018, at Memorial Lutheran Church in Nevada, with Pastor Myron Herzberg officiating.  Memorial visitation will be held at the church one hour prior to services with a luncheon following the service. 

Rick was born February 7, 1959, to Bob and Mary (Lasell) Dawson.  He grew up and lived his entire childhood in the same home, referred to by its address, “807,” in Nevada.  He graduated from Nevada High School in 1977, and attended Morningside College in Iowa.

Rick’s love of art is how he met Linda Frank.  And on April 9, 1978, he married Linda, his high school sweetheart, at the Central Presbyterian Church in Nevada.  Later that year they had their first born child, a son named Josh.  A family of three for almost five years, then in 1983, on Labor Day, they became a loving family of four when their baby girl, Lindsey, was born. 

Rick worked at the family grain business, The Dawson Elevator Company, where he managed the north elevator in Nevada.  He later became a rural mail carrier in Maxwell, Iowa, and worked 26 more years for the U.S. Postal Service where he was a union member the entire time.  He ended his career covering the scenic countryside in 2011, when his illness overcame him and resulted in a medical retirement.

With his love for nature, Rick was almost always happiest outdoors.  His passion for wild places led to lifelong interests in canoeing and wildlife wilderness preservation.  While he loved to drop his paddle in places like Hickory Grove Lake and the Des Moines River, his favorite places to canoe were in northern Minnesota.  He was proud to say he paddled every lake in the BWCA (Boundary Water Canoe Area).  He also loved to go to Canada and paddle Quetico and Wabakimi.  His favorite lake in the BWCA was Brule Lake and he of course loved Lake Superior.  Rick’s last paddle was in Lake Superior out of Grand Marais, MN.

Any place with trees, water and rocks was enough to make him happy, especially if it was with his family.  Together Rick and Linda shared the love of the wilderness with their children.  Rick had an antique canoe collection of mostly wood canvas canoes, donating his favorite one to the Canoe Museum in the eastern United States.  Rick love bicycling, backpacking and hiking.  And if he could share these adventures with his family he was absolutely the happiest.

He also enjoyed riding his Harleys and the wind at his back, riding to Sturges, SD many times.

Rick was a talented artist, especially throwing pots on his potters’ wheel, awaiting the outcome from his kiln.  He visited as many art galleries as possible with his wife and children, making sure to share this passion with as many as he could.  He collected fine art pieces, mostly of northern Minnesota.

He was preceded in death by his father, Bob Dawson; a sister, Margo Patricia; his grandparents, Lee “Boppi” and Margaret “Mema” Dawson; and Linda’s father, Bob Frank.

Rick is survived by his wife, just weeks shy of 40 years, Linda (Frank) Dawson; their children Josh and Lindsey Dawson; Linda’s mother, Bert Ann (Chuck) Ray; Linda’s sister, Sandi (Craig Calhoun) Lancaster; his nephews Tony Lancaster and Troy (Sarah) Lancaster and their children Jalen, Kaley and Linken.  He is also survived by his mother, Mary “Muni” Dawson; his two brothers, Bob (Jane) Dawson, and Mike (Diane) Dawson and their son William and his daughter; his sister, Pastor Pat (Gene) Hammond and their daughter Haley.

Rick’s final resting place will be a private ceremony with his wife and children at a later date. 

Ryan Funeral Home of Nevada has been entrusted with the care of Richard and his family.