Obituary for
Richard E McCauley
Richard Eugene McCauley passed away August 31, 2014, from injuries suffered in a tragic automobile accident on August 22, 2014. He was transferred from the Creighton Trauma Center to the Hospice Unit at Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, IA, where he died peacefully "at home." Dick was the only child born to Ralph Eugene McCauley and Minnie Christina Leander McCauley, July 13, 1933. He was born in the old "Jones Hospital," weighing 13 pounds.
Dick attended Jackson Elementary School and graduated from the Atlantic High School in 1951. He was active in basketball and football during his high school years, and played trumpet in the Band. After graduation, he attended the University of Iowa majoring in Business. While in the University, he became a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity and the Iowa ROTC program. He graduated from "Iowa" in 1955, with a degree in business and the rank of Second Lieutenant in the United States Army.
He married Patricia (Yates) McCauley June 18, 1955, in Atlantic, IA. The wedding took place in SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Atlantic. Three months later, Dick was activated as a 2nd Lt. in the US Army and soon assigned duty in Germany for two years. He and his wife, Pat, loved their duty in Munich, Germany and traveled extensively. Their first child, son Michael, was born in Munich. The family returned to Atlantic in November 1957, where Dick joined his father in the "Whitney Insurance Agency;" where he worked until purchasing the agency in partnership with Robert Schuler. The agency was called, "The McCauley Schuler Insurance Agency;" keeping the age-old motto of "Your Friend After the Loss." Dick was active in the agency and the community, belonging to the Atlantic Junior and Senior Chamber of Commerce as an active Board Member, the local Red Cross Chapter as a Board member, the Cass County Conservation Board, and the SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church Parish Council. Dick was a loyal member of the B.P.O.E. Elks Lodge, and was their Exalted Ruler in 1963-1964. He was also a member of the Atlantic Golf and Country Club, serving as president in 1982, and the Nishna Hills Golf Club.
After retirement in 1986, he and wife, Pat, wintered in Green Valley, AZ. While in Green Valley, Dick was active in the Lions Club, the Elks Club, played French Horn in the Green Valley Concert Band, and was a member of the GV Chamber Music Society. He was also an active "flier" in the Green Valley radio control Airplane Club, making many new friends as a "snow bird." After returning to Atlantic during the winters, Dick resumed his hobby of building and flying Radio Control Airplanes with the local, "Hawks" Radio Control Airplane Club, and enjoyed many happy hours in his "airplane garage" in the Plum Street home and on the local flying field.
Dick was an avid hunter and fisherman all his life. His happiest moments were sitting in a duck blind hunting with his good friends, Joe O'Brien, Foster Rutledge, and Dennis Henningsen, who have preceded him in death. He cared for his many hunting dogs, but the dog he loved most was "Heidi 2," his little Daschund. He hunted and fished all over the United States, Canada, and Alaska during his lifetime, as did his father, Ralph.
Dick and Pat parented five children, Michael Eugene, Dorothy Lee, Kathy Sue, and Korean sons, Boke Eric, and Joseph Kim. The children were all raised in the Cedar St. Home and graduated from AHS, and were all members of SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church.
Surviving Dick are his wife of 59 years, "Pat;" children, Michael Eugene (wife, Lori), Dorothy Lee Schabilion (husband, Bill) Kathy Sue Kleen (husband, Jim) Boke Eric (wife, Tanya) and Joseph Kim (wife, Mia); nine grandchildren, Nic, Trevor and Mat McCauley, TJ, Paul and Christie Kleen, Hannah and Michael Schabilion, and Christian Kim; his sister-in-law, Sharon Allen (husband, Keith); favorite cousins, Doris Spoo and Bob Leander; and friends in Atlantic and Green Valley, AZ.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Lee McCauley; in-laws, Loren and Helen Rose Yates; one of his favorite cousins, Bill Sutton; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Dick was an outstanding man with qualities of honesty, loyalty, and generosity throughout his 81 years of life. His love for his family and friends was obvious to all.
Dick's Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, January 3, 2015, at SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Atlantic, IA, at 10:30 a.m., with a Celebration of Life Luncheon at noon at the Atlantic Elks Lodge. He is at rest in the local cemetery in the family plot.
The family suggests memorials be made to Cass County Memorial Hospital or the Cass County Conservation Club.
Roland Funeral Home is caring for Richard's family and his arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com
IN REMEMBRANCE OF
Richard E. McCauley
BORN
July 13, 1933 ~ Atlantic, Iowa
ENTERED INTO REST
Sunday, August 31, 2014 ~ Atlantic, Iowa
At the age of
81 years, 1 month, & 18 days
MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL
10:30 a.m., Saturday, January 3, 2015
SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Atlantic, Iowa
CELEBRANT ~ Father Chori Seraiah
ORGANIST ~ Artie Dusenberry
MUSICAL SELECTIONS
Processional - “On Eagles’ Wings” #611
Offertory - “Amazing Grace” by The Martin Family Singers
Communion - “You’ll Never Walk Alone” by Elsa Casey
“Celtic Farewell” by Elsa Casey
Recessional - “Let There Be Peace On Earth” #731
HONORARY PALLBEARERS
Nicholas McCauley
Trevor McCauley
Mat McCauley
TJ Kleen
Paul Kleen
Michael Schabilion
Michael McCauley
Boke McCauley
Joseph Kim
Keith Allen
FLOWER COMMITTEE
Sid Knop
Kathy Nelson
Laurine Price
INTERMENT
SS Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery, Atlantic, Iowa
MILITARY HONORS
Atlantic Color Guard
CELEBRATION OF LIFE LUNCHEON
12:00 p.m.
Atlantic Elks Lodge
Memorials may be made to the Cass County Memorial Hospital
or the Cass County Conservation Club.