Richard Hemmingsen

Richard Hemmingsen, 72, of Marne, Iowa, passed away Wednesday, July 23, 2008, at his home.

Richard was born on April 24, 1936, at his parents' home southeast of Elk Horn in Shelby County, Iowa. He was the son of Peter and Elsie (Peterson) Hemmingsen. Peter and Elsie were Danish immigrants moving from Mon, Denmark, to New York in 1928, then in 1929 they moved to Elk Horn, Iowa, and started farming.

Richard attended country school and graduated from Audubon High School in 1955.

On May 16, 1959, he married Caroline Johnson at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Atlantic, Iowa. They lived in Elk Horn and the Marne area until moving to their current farm near Marne in 1972.

Richard drove a truck for various people in the Elk Horn area. He started farming with his dad and continued farming with his son until his health prevented it.

He was a former member of the Marne Volunteer Fire Department and a current member of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Atlantic.

Richard enjoyed fishing and dancing in his earlier years and didn't turn down an opportunity to listen to Polka music. He was quite handy and enjoyed fixing things or just tinkering around. He liked watching the Baseball World Series on television, whether it was the Cubs or St. Louis Cardinals. Richard was an easy going person who liked to tease and humor others. Most of all Richard loved the time he spent with his family.

Richard is survived by his wife, Caroline of Marne, Iowa; and his son, Rodney Hemmingsen and his wife, Patti, and their children, Trey and Zachary of Marne, Iowa; sister-in-law, LaVila Nielsen, and her husband Dale, of Johnston, Iowa; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Elsie Hemmingsen and his parents-in-law, Arnold and Frances Johnson.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, July 26, 2008, at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Atlantic, Iowa.

Burial will be in the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery in Atlantic, Iowa

Visitation will be from 1:00 to 8:00 p.m., Friday, July 25, 2008, with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and a scriptural prayer service at 6:00 p.m. at Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic.