Richard Lee Kent

Richard Lee Kent, the son of Elmer Forrest and Mary Rose (Nelson) Kent, was born September 28, 1945, in Jefferson, Iowa and died April 17, 2017, at the Thomas Rest Haven in Coon Rapids, Iowa at the age of 71 years, 6 months, and 19 days.
Richard was baptized as an adult at the First Christian Church in Audubon, Iowa. He attended Guthrie Center Community Schools graduating with the High School Class of 1965. On June 25, 1965, Richard enlisted into the United States Air Force. During his tour of duty he served as Fire Protection Specialist being stationed state-side and spending over a year on a Crash and Rescue Unit in Vietnam. Richard was honorably discharged on July 3, 1969, and returned to Guthrie Center, Iowa where he was employed with U.P.S.
On May 22, 1971, he was united in marriage to Annette Railsback at the First Christian Church in Audubon, Iowa. They were blessed with two children Chad and Heather. Richard and Annette moved to Ankeny, Iowa where Richard was employed at several businesses. They moved to Lakewood, Iowa where they lived for a short time before moving back to Guthrie Center, Iowa. Richard worked with his Uncle Bill at Nelson Well and Pump Service which he later purchased. Richard operated this business for many years. In 1988 he started working for American Home Shield in Carroll, Iowa. Richard was an Authorizer. In July of 1998 he was designated as the Employee of the Month and later became the Employee of the Year for 1998. Richard continued to work until he had to retire due to his failing health in 2012. He then helped Annette with daycare.
Richard was an active member of the First Christian Church in Guthrie Center. He served as a Lay Minister, was an Elder, a Deacon, had been President of the Church Board, and had helped on many and various committees. He was a Volunteer Fireman and was involved with the Boy Scouts. He enjoyed hunting with his Brittaney Spaniel and fishing in Minnesota and the Boundary Waters. He was an avid photographer and loved taking photos of his grandchildren, barns, and flowers. Richard and Annette enjoyed traveling across the U.S. and had visited 44 of the 50 states.
Preceding him in death were his parents; his brother Robert Forrest Kent; his uncle Bill Nelson; his father-in-law and mother-in-law Orville (Corky) and Shirley Railsback; and his niece Lori Firebaugh.
Survivors include his wife Annette Kent of Guthrie Center, Iowa; his children Chad and wife Dana Kent and their daughter Harper all of Altoona, Iowa and Heather and husband Brad Mueggenberg of Glidden, Iowa and their sons Zach Mueggenberg of Sioux Rapids, Iowa, Ethen Mueggenberg of Ankeny, Iowa, and Cooper Mueggenberg and Carson Mueggenberg both of Glidden, Iowa; his sister-in-law Pam and husband Lonnell Firebaugh of The Colony, Texas; his nephew Stewart and wife Kim Firebaugh of Panora, Iowa; other relatives and many friends.
The Family will gather with friends Thursday evening April 20, 2017, at 5:00 P.M. at the Fellowship Hall in Guthrie Center, Iowa. Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Denis James on Friday morning, April 21, 2017 at 10:30 A.M. at the First Christian Church in Guthrie Center, Iowa. Interment will be in the Union Cemetery in Guthrie Center. The honorary casket bearers will be Carson Mueggenberg and Harper Kent. The casket bearers will be Zach Mueggenberg, Ethen Mueggenberg, Cooper Mueggenberg, Jim Stephens, Ken Rasmussen, and Ron Carper.