Richard Lee Richards
June 28, 2016
Richard Lee Richards was born on July 31, 1952, to Lee Bolton Richards and Irene Klein Richards in Eldora, IA. He passed away on June 28, 2016, surrounded by his family in Des Moines, IA. His family lived in Webster City where he graduated from high school and began his love of performing in the theater and singing. He graduated from Augustana College (now University) in Sioux Falls, SD and went on to graduate from Drake University with a law degree in 1977. His career in the legal profession took him from the Iowa Attorney General's Office to the Polk County Prosecutors office, and from 1983 until his retirement at the end of October, 2015, to the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa. He loved the various aspects of the law he practiced as a public servant.
On August 26, 1978, he married Sylvia Versteeg in Sioux Falls, SD. Together they raised three children, Nicholas of Denver, CO, Paige of Toledo, OH, and Michael of Coralville, IA.
Richard was well known by his friends, co-workers, family, and the community for his booming voice, singing ability, and flair for the dramatic at home, in the courtroom, and on the stage.
Through the years he has performed in many productions at the Des Moines Community Playhouse, The Drama Workshop, Des Moines Metro Opera and Repertory Theater of Iowa. Outside of Iowa he had performed at The Nashville Opera, the Pensacola Opera and the Wamego Theater in Wamego, KS. He also shared his singing voice with the choirs and members of First Christian Church, St. John's Lutheran Church, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, and Temple B’nai Jeshurun.
Surviving him are his wife, Sylvia; and children, Nick (Kate), Paige (Eric) Albjerg, and Michael (Eliza Kelley); brother, Kevin and his wife, Dawn of LeMars, IA; his brother-in-law and his wife, Maurice and Vickie Versteeg of Sioux Falls, SD; five nephews, Todd (Marci) and Lynn (Becky) Versteeg, Ian (Christa), Colin, and Evan Richards; niece, Shari (Chad) VanderWoude; and a host of cousins, extended family and friends. Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Lee and Irene Richards; a still-born son, William; and his father and mother-in-law, Marion and Henrietta Versteeg.
A special thank you to Dr. Tom Buroker, his staff, and the staff of Powell 3.
Memorials may be directed to St. John's Lutheran Church, First Christian Church, or Repertory Theater of Iowa. Condolences may be expressed online at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.
Visitation will be held Friday, July 1, 2016, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines and the memorial service on Saturday, July 2, at 11:00 a.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church, 600 6th Avenue in Des Moines.
Paula Conry
06/30/2016
You have my sympathies. I am Eliza's aunt, and we like Michael very much. We met Richard and Sylvia at a dinner in Iowa City. You are such nice people. I am so sorry for your loss.
Paula and Neal Conry
Elizabeth Riordan
06/30/2016
It didn't matter how many times I had heard the lines or what jobs I had backstage, I would always stop to peak through the curtain to watch Rich act on stage. He was a true master. He will be sorely missed and my thoughts are with his family.
Ted Prine
06/30/2016
Rich and I graduated together from Drake Law School, and worked together at the Polk County Attorney's Office. He was a warm and decent person who always had a smile on his face. My condolences to his family.
Joe & Charlotte Sherman
06/30/2016
Our deepest condolences to Rich's family. We watched him grow up at St. Paul's Church in Webster City. We knew his parents well. We are thinking of you and know he is a great loss.
Wendy Havemann
06/30/2016
Sylvia and family, you are in my prayers. Loss is so hard. Rich was a wonderful man with God-given talents that enabled him to bring joy to many of us. May God comfort you. We are out of town this weekend but you will be in our thoughts.
John Eastby
06/30/2016
Sylvia and family. May God be with you and comfort you. A full life like Rich's leaves many lo
ving and happy memories. We outside the family have been fortunate that he made some of them on stage and with music. For those and his high spirit I am thankful.
Nancy Parish
06/29/2016
My deepest condolences to Rich's family. I did summer stock theater with him for two summers in Sioux Falls: Showboat, Pinafore, South Pacific and Dracula. He was a very talented and powerful guy with a heart, and was such an asset to the Augie community. I'm so sorry for your loss.
Scott Berry
06/29/2016
Rich was such a fine person and such a strong man. The last time I saw him and was with him, we were at a meeting together and we talked for some time afterwards. He'd actually shared that his cancer was terminal, but his demeanor was cheerful and humorous, and he seemed to be truly excited about some projects he had just started. Amazing Grace indeed!
John Beamer
06/29/2016
My good friend and colleague is gone, but never forgotten. "The trail is the thing, not the end of the trail." Louis L'Amour