"Dewayne, Sue, Ken and family. Terribly sorry for your loss. I just saw in the paper and feel terrible for not making the visitation. Dick was a great man and I enjoyed talking with him a week before his passing. He thought I was Dean. God Bless."
In loving memory of
Richard "Dick" L. Youngberg
January 19, 1933 - September 30, 2018
Richard Youngberg passed away on September 30, 2018 at his home on the family farm near Essex, Iowa, in the company of his children DeWayne, Suzanne and Kenneth. Richard was preceded in death by his beloved wife Wilma (Sickman) Youngberg, who passed away at the family home on September 8, 2000.
Richard ("Dick") Lee Youngberg was born on January 19, 1933, the son of Gerald Youngberg and Stella (Tornquist) Youngberg. The oldest of three children, he was raised on the family farm near Essex, Iowa, three miles south of his current farm. He was baptized and confirmed in Fremont Lutheran Church at Nyman, Iowa. Richard attended the historic Goldenrod Schoolhouse then located in Fremont Township and was salutatorian of the Page County Rural Schools upon graduation from 8th grade in 1947. He graduated in 1951 from Red Oak High School and attended Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois for one year before transferring to the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.
Richard enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves in 1952 and served on active duty during 1954-56 with an artillery division stationed in post-war Germany. He returned in 1956 and resumed college at UNL during fall semesters while also farming full time and graduated in 1959 with a Bachelor's Degree in Agricultural Engineering. In early 1960, Richard met Wilma Sickman of Northboro, Iowa at a church youth social in Shenandoah, Iowa. The couple were engaged at Christmas 1960 and married on December 27, 1961. After a brief honeymoon in Kansas City, Missouri, Richard and Wilma moved into their current home east of Essex, where they continued to farm together for nearly 39 years. To the union of Richard and Wilma, three children were born, DeWayne, Suzanne and Kenneth. Richard was a member of the Fremont Lutheran Church at Nyman and served as Treasurer of the Mount Hope Cemetery Association for many years. In addition to being a devoted son, husband, father and grandfather, Richard thoroughly enjoyed life as a farmer.
He also enjoyed reading history, traveling and spending time with his children and grandchildren, having recently relocated to Soldotna, Alaska near Kenneth and his family.
In addition to his wife Wilma, Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Gerald and Stella Youngberg and an infant sister Patsy who died at 3 years old. He is survived by his sister Nancy Clark of Hamilton, Montana, his three children, DeWayne of Austin, Texas, Suzanne of Zionsville, Indiana, and Kenneth of Soldotna, Alaska, as well as eight grandchildren, Madeline, Oliver, Anderson, Sophia, Nicholas, Daniela, Abigail and Angelica, ages 21 through 5 years. He will be dearly missed by his family as well as his many friends and neighbors.
Funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m., Thursday, October 4, 2018 at the Fremont Lutheran Church in Nyman, Iowa.
Visitation with the family will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 3, 2018 at the Hackett-Livingston Funeral Home in Shenandoah.
Burial will be held at the Mt. Hope Cemetery in Nyman, Iowa. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Mt. Hope Cemetery of Nyman,Iowa.
Tributes
"DeWayne, Suzanne, and Kenneth: Thinking of you all and praying for moments of peace and comfort as you mourn the loss of you dad. Visiting with your dad it was always evident of his deep love and pride for your mom and all of you. May the memories of your dad's life provide you with comfort. With deepest sympathy, Marla Sickman"
"DeWayne, Sue and Kenneth: I am deeply saddened to have received news of your dad's passing. My God grant you comfort, peace and strength during this difficult time. I always enjoyed talking farming with your dad when my family visited Iowa or when your parents traveled east to Indiana. His keen intellect and amiable personality certainly stand out in my mind. I feel especially grateful to have had one last chance to see and chat with him this past June when I traveled out there with my parents to attend Mabel's Birthday celebration. He will be missed and fondly remembered. With deepest sympathy, Tim Sickman"
"What a truly wonderful person he was and I am blessed to have known him. Always with a genuine smile and kind word. May you be comforted by your memories and each other. In sympathy, Laura (Walker) Thornburg"
"DeWayne, Sue and Ken, I am so sorry for your loss. He was a great Man and a true supporter to the community in every way. Its wonderful knowing that memories last forever. Prayers to all "
"Suzanne, Kenneth, and DeWayne: Thinking of you all and praying for your comfort as you cope with the loss of your dad. I have good memories of your family visiting our home place in Indiana and our family staying at your Iowa farm. I loved hearing your dad and mom talk and laugh. With deepest sympathy, Janice (Sickman) Watkins"
"Dee and Sue I'm so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time. Hold on to the memories, they are welcomed on those days when you need your dad. With deepest sympathy Carolyn (Penry) Lombard"
"Dee and Sue I'm so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time. Hold on to the memories, they are welcomed on those days when you need your dad. With deepest sympathy Carolyn (Penry) Lombard"
"Dick Youngberg was one of my favorite clients during my time working for Lutheran Brotherhood. I had the opportunity to meet with he and Wilma several times, and then would talk with Dick periodically over the course of the following years. He was a great conversationalist; He loved his family and he loved his Lord. He was such an inspiration to me and I cherished our visits. After leaving Lutheran Brotherhood, I had not seen Dick for quite a while, until a year ago or so. He remembered me and he filled me in on his family and we had a wonderful visit. I am so thankful we had that visit. I am sad to see Dick has now left this world, and I know he is in heaven's glory today, and that makes me smile. Although I never got to know Dick really well, he touched my life by sharing his faith and I will not forget him. My prayers are with you all as you mourn this great man. Sincerely, Jean Debban"
"To the Family of Dick Youngberg so sorry to see that he has passed away. His dad Gerald Youngburg and my grandmother Marian Rydberg were brother and sister. I think you kids were much younger than I was, I was the oldest of the Kirchert siblings, just wanted to say I'm sorry to see the passing of your dad. Teresa Kirchert Reitzler"
"Ken, I'm so sorry about your father's passing. Know that you are in my thoughts at this time."
"DeWayne, Suzanne and Kenneth- So sorry for your loss. Your Dad and Mom were wonderful friends and mentors to me, and I?m sure many others over the years. I remember them being Luther League leaders, which in itself is admirable, but they were willing to step into that role before you three were old enough to be Luther Leaguers! When I was considering starting my business, they were my sounding board and encouragers. Dick was one of the first people to stop by our house just after we had our first daughter. And Dick was so very proud of each of you as you made your imprint on the world. As we became parents ourselves, we appreciate more and more what a blessing it has been to have godly parents...and you three were certainly blessed. May you be comforted with the wonderful memories you have and in knowing that this is not the end, but the beginning of the joys of heaven for your Dad."