Richard Wayne "Dick" Kerr passed away on June 5, 2020, in West Burlington, Iowa. He was born on December 1, 1940 to Delbert and Dorothy (Brown) Kerr in Mt. Pleasant. He graduated from Salem High School in 1959 and excelled in sports. In his senior year he qualified for Drake Relays and placed 2nd in the 20- and 100-yard dash. After graduation he moved to Mt. Pleasant where he became shop foreman for Schaffer Motors. Later Dick owned and operated Kerr's Standard Station on the corner of the square. He was a volunteer fireman in Mt. Pleasant for many years.
Dick was an awesome drummer, playing with several bands. The last band was called "The New Sounds", a band in which he played along with his best friends Marc and Florence Millspaugh for 12 years. Together they played in clubs, for weddings, reunions and at the Eagles, Elks and Moose Clubs.
In 1968 he moved to Burlington to become the mechanic for Paul's Marina. It was then he married his soulmate, Patty Lou Scarff, on a River Queen houseboat under McArthur Bridge. For several years they lived in a cabin on the Mississippi. He then moved to Burlington to begin working for Shipley Construction as a Superintendent for the Asphalt crew. He liked boating, fishing, hunting, snowmobiling and HIS JOB. He had a great love for the Mississippi River. He and his wife owned a cabin on the river for 10 years and enjoyed many good times boating and sitting by the fire with family and friends.
He retired in January of 2001. His No. 1 hobby was watching his grandchildren, fishing in Catfish tournaments, attending his son's Bass tournaments and was always the first to the ramp to watch the weigh ins. He loved to attend his grandchildren's sports and support them. He never missed a game or practice for Ethan and he loved to watch his "little princess" Emery dance.
He was a member of Zion United Church of Christ for 40 years and then a member of First Christian Church ~ Disciples of Christ. Dick was a very gentle, hard-working, helpful man who loved his family, friends and life. No matter how bad he felt when asked "How Are You?" he would reply, "Purdy Good".
Survivors include his wife; sons Jerry, Rick and Chad Kerr; his daughter Shelly Kerr; grandchildren Keenan, Nolan, Ethan and Emery; his sister Louise Elmore; and several nieces and nephews. His mother, father and grandparents preceded him in death. A celebration of Dick's life was held on Saturday, June 27th at Lunning Chapel. According to his wishes, cremation was entrusted to the care of Lunning Chapel.
Dick was an awesome drummer, playing with several bands. The last band was called "The New Sounds", a band in which he played along with his best friends Marc and Florence Millspaugh for 12 years. Together they played in clubs, for weddings, reunions and at the Eagles, Elks and Moose Clubs.
In 1968 he moved to Burlington to become the mechanic for Paul's Marina. It was then he married his soulmate, Patty Lou Scarff, on a River Queen houseboat under McArthur Bridge. For several years they lived in a cabin on the Mississippi. He then moved to Burlington to begin working for Shipley Construction as a Superintendent for the Asphalt crew. He liked boating, fishing, hunting, snowmobiling and HIS JOB. He had a great love for the Mississippi River. He and his wife owned a cabin on the river for 10 years and enjoyed many good times boating and sitting by the fire with family and friends.
He retired in January of 2001. His No. 1 hobby was watching his grandchildren, fishing in Catfish tournaments, attending his son's Bass tournaments and was always the first to the ramp to watch the weigh ins. He loved to attend his grandchildren's sports and support them. He never missed a game or practice for Ethan and he loved to watch his "little princess" Emery dance.
He was a member of Zion United Church of Christ for 40 years and then a member of First Christian Church ~ Disciples of Christ. Dick was a very gentle, hard-working, helpful man who loved his family, friends and life. No matter how bad he felt when asked "How Are You?" he would reply, "Purdy Good".
Survivors include his wife; sons Jerry, Rick and Chad Kerr; his daughter Shelly Kerr; grandchildren Keenan, Nolan, Ethan and Emery; his sister Louise Elmore; and several nieces and nephews. His mother, father and grandparents preceded him in death. A celebration of Dick's life was held on Saturday, June 27th at Lunning Chapel. According to his wishes, cremation was entrusted to the care of Lunning Chapel.
Richard Wayne "Dick" Kerr passed away on June 5, 2020, in West Burlington, Iowa. He was born on December 1, 1940 to Delbert and Dorothy (Brown) Kerr in Mt. Pleasant. He graduated from Salem High School in 1959 and excelled in sports. In his senior year he qualified for Drake Relays and placed 2nd in the 20- and 100-yard dash. After graduation he moved to Mt. Pleasant where he became shop foreman for Schaffer Motors. Later Dick owned and operated Kerr's Standard Station on the corner of the square. He was a volunteer fireman in Mt. Pleasant for many years.
Dick was an awesome drummer, playing with several bands. The last band was called "The New Sounds", a band in which he played along with his best friends Marc and Florence Millspaugh for 12 years. Together they played in clubs, for weddings, reunions and at the Eagles, Elks and Moose Clubs.
In 1968 he moved to Burlington to become the mechanic for Paul's Marina. It was then he married his soulmate, Patty Lou Scarff, on a River Queen houseboat under McArthur Bridge. For several years they lived in a cabin on the Mississippi. He then moved to Burlington to begin working for Shipley Construction as a Superintendent for the Asphalt crew. He liked boating, fishing, hunting, snowmobiling and HIS JOB. He had a great love for the Mississippi River. He and his wife owned a cabin on the river for 10 years and enjoyed many good times boating and sitting by the fire with family and friends.
He retired in January of 2001. His No. 1 hobby was watching his grandchildren, fishing in Catfish tournaments, attending his son's Bass tournaments and was always the first to the ramp to watch the weigh ins. He loved to attend his grandchildren's sports and support them. He never missed a game or practice for Ethan and he loved to watch his "little princess" Emery dance.
He was a member of Zion United Church of Christ for 40 years and then a member of First Christian Church ~ Disciples of Christ. Dick was a very gentle, hard-working, helpful man who loved his family, friends and life. No matter how bad he felt when asked "How Are You?" he would reply, "Purdy Good".
Survivors include his wife; sons Jerry, Rick and Chad Kerr; his daughter Shelly Kerr; grandchildren Keenan, Nolan, Ethan and Emery; his sister Louise Elmore; and several nieces and nephews. His mother, father and grandparents preceded him in death. A celebration of Dick's life was held on Saturday, June 27th at Lunning Chapel. According to his wishes, cremation was entrusted to the care of Lunning Chapel.
Dick was an awesome drummer, playing with several bands. The last band was called "The New Sounds", a band in which he played along with his best friends Marc and Florence Millspaugh for 12 years. Together they played in clubs, for weddings, reunions and at the Eagles, Elks and Moose Clubs.
In 1968 he moved to Burlington to become the mechanic for Paul's Marina. It was then he married his soulmate, Patty Lou Scarff, on a River Queen houseboat under McArthur Bridge. For several years they lived in a cabin on the Mississippi. He then moved to Burlington to begin working for Shipley Construction as a Superintendent for the Asphalt crew. He liked boating, fishing, hunting, snowmobiling and HIS JOB. He had a great love for the Mississippi River. He and his wife owned a cabin on the river for 10 years and enjoyed many good times boating and sitting by the fire with family and friends.
He retired in January of 2001. His No. 1 hobby was watching his grandchildren, fishing in Catfish tournaments, attending his son's Bass tournaments and was always the first to the ramp to watch the weigh ins. He loved to attend his grandchildren's sports and support them. He never missed a game or practice for Ethan and he loved to watch his "little princess" Emery dance.
He was a member of Zion United Church of Christ for 40 years and then a member of First Christian Church ~ Disciples of Christ. Dick was a very gentle, hard-working, helpful man who loved his family, friends and life. No matter how bad he felt when asked "How Are You?" he would reply, "Purdy Good".
Survivors include his wife; sons Jerry, Rick and Chad Kerr; his daughter Shelly Kerr; grandchildren Keenan, Nolan, Ethan and Emery; his sister Louise Elmore; and several nieces and nephews. His mother, father and grandparents preceded him in death. A celebration of Dick's life was held on Saturday, June 27th at Lunning Chapel. According to his wishes, cremation was entrusted to the care of Lunning Chapel.
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