Richard Jerome Arganbright, 89, died on September 24, 2021 at the Guthrie County Hospital, Guthrie Center, Iowa. He entered this world on a farm north of Monteith, Iowa, on May 31, 1932 to Michael Frederick and Anne Josephine (O'Brien) Arganbright, the tenth of 11 children. Along with his siblings, he attended Valley #1 country school and graduated from Panora High School in 1951, after setting a career high record in basketball.
Dick landed a basketball scholarship at University of Iowa, and also played on its freshman football team. When his brother was drafted into the Korean War, Dick left college to help his parents at home on the farm. That next year in 1952, he was drafted and served in the U. S. Army artillery as crewman on the 105mm howitzer military piece at the front. Following his service in Korea, Dick farmed with his dad and raised cattle, hogs and row crops. In 1972, he purchased the home place from his parents, and on November 17, 1984, he married Diane Elliott Downing in Panora. They made a home together with her children on the farm.
In his prime, Dick stood 6'5" with muscles to match and could hook a hay bale and swing it from the ground to top of the stack in one fell swoop. Dick didn't waste words, but he enjoyed catching up with family and friends over the years. He prided himself on being able to name the birthdate of each of his 54 nieces and nephews. In turn, they snuck into his candy, nuts and Red Man chewing tobacco he kept in the pantry.
Dick was a member of the Panora American Legion, VFW and St. Cecilia Parish. He was part of the original group that created Panora's Avenue of Flags in 1976. He enjoyed trips to Des Moines to watch the Drake Bulldogs and remained an avid Cubs fan. He thoroughly relished being a grandpa.
Dick is preceded in death by his parents, siblings Donald, Tom, infant brother, John, Vince, Jim and Mary Moylan. He's survived by his wife, Diane and his step-children, Darcy (Travis) Gliem and Scott Downing, Panora, and Troy Downing, Fort Dodge; Grandchildren, Dalton (Mikayla) Downing and Shane Gliem, Panora, Dylan Downing, Jefferson, and T.J. Gliem, Council Bluffs; Great-grandchildren, Garrett, Georgianne, and Amelia Downing, Panora; Siblings, Elizabeth Peterson, Tracy, Calif., Catherine (Bob) Wilhelm, Dyersville, and Mike (Mary) Arganbright, Linden; and many, many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be 10:00 A.M., Wednesday, September 29, 2021 at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, Panora. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery, rural Guthrie Center. Visitation will be Tuesday, September 28, 2021 from 5-7 P.M. at the Twigg Funeral Home, Panora with a Prayer Service at 7:00 P.M.
Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.