Richard H. Rankin passed away, of natural causes, on June 22, 2025, at the age of 90. Memorial services were held at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 28, at Newton First Assembly of God Church. The family prefers memorial contributions for Newton First Assembly of God Church.
Rich was born in Newton on Oct. 19, 1934, to Beatrice and Harold Rankin. He had three sisters: Phyllis, Sandra “Sandy”, and Janet; and one brother Ronald “Ron.”
Mar. 25, 1954, he married his high school sweetheart Karen Joan Hoagland. They became the parents of a sprawling family that includes four children: Jeff, James (Jim), Peggy, and Lisa; 19 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren (with three more on the way); and two great-great-grandchildren.
Richard grew up on the family farm outside Reasnor. He attended elementary school at a one-room county schoolhouse two miles from the farm. He started high school in Monroe, where he joined the football team and met his future wife Karen. He transferred to Newton High School for his last two years.
After graduating and marrying Karen, they both worked for Maytag in Newton. On hot days, they would go home to their no A/C apartment, grab their swimsuits, and head for the pool. Jeff was born while they lived in Newton and James after they moved to the Reasnor area.
In 1959, they bought and renovated a country schoolhouse outside of Reasnor, where they welcomed Peggy to their family. Richard left Maytag after six years. He worked for a time at Vernon’s in Newton and helped on the family farm. In 1963, he bought into the family farm as a partner with his father Harold and brother Ron, and they formed Harold Rankin and Sons. The family moved to the house next to his childhood home, where they welcome a new daughter Lisa. They eventually moved to the original farmhouse where they lived for 41 years. He was a farmer until his retirement in 1999. They bought a fifth-wheel camper and began traveling the country. For 13 years, they spent their winters in Texas. In 2010, they bought a house in Newton and moved off the farm. In 2022, they moved to the Grand Living Retirement Village in West Des Moines where they celebrated their 71st anniversary, and he spent his remaining years.
Richard loved Jesus and wanted to be a witness to all. He made friends with everyone he met, with his humor, kindness, outgoing nature, and irresistible smile. He was a jokester who loved to stir the pot. His favorite prank was to call people and say: “Joe’s Pool Hall? This is eight-ball speaking.” He was a natural mechanic, teacher, inventor, and resourceful visionary. He could see a problem and fabricate a solution out of the things he saw around him.
His favorite things were airplanes, boats, airplanes, fishing, flying, camping, airplanes, Hawkeye sports, and airplanes. He was loved by his huge family, had many friends, and will be missed by all who knew him.
He was welcomed into heaven by his parents Harold and Beatrice Rankin, son Jeff Rankin, granddaughter Jessalyn Ver Ploeg, and sister Phyllis Holmes.
Left to honor him are his wife Karen Rankin, daughter-in-law Kathy (Rankin) DeJong, son James (Jeanette) Rankin, daughters Peggy (Patrick) Richter and Lisa (Scott) Ver Ploeg, and his many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.
His final words, spoken moments before he passed, and witnessed by his son Jim and daughter-in-law Jeanette, were: “Lord and Savior… ( breath) ... My Lord and Savior here to get me” (final breaths).
