Richard Waldo Henson

Richard Waldo Henson, age 66 of North English, died at his home on Friday, July 21, 2017. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 25, 2017, at the Powell Funeral Home in North English. Pastor Luke Caster will officiate. Visitation will be on Monday, July 24th from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial with military rites will be in the North English Cemetery. A memorial fund has been established for the English Valleys Veterans Memorial in North English.

Richard Waldo Henson was born on September 6, 1950, in Sigourney, Iowa, the son of Waldo B. and Minnie M Batterson Henson. He moved with his parents and sister from Hayesville to North English where he graduated from English Valleys High School in 1968. Dick entered the workforce working at the Landmark Truck Stop until being drafted into the Army in January 1970. He was deployed to Vietnam, where he was assigned to the First Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Wolfhound Division. Dick was united in marriage to Ruth A. Grimm on March 18, 1972 at the Community Church, rural Deep River. They made their home in North English. Dick worked 34 years for the Iowa County Secondary Road Department until his retirement in 2008. He was currently serving in his fifth term as Mayor of North English. Dick had served many years on the city council, as a board member at Knoll Ridge Country Club, the CITA Fire Board, and Emergency 911 Board. He was a 38 year member of the North English Fire Department and was a weather spotter; Dick was an Iowa County Veterans Affairs board member, and a member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was also a member of the Wolfhounds Association and served as their secretary. He and Ruth attended most of their reunions across the country. Dick was also a long-time member and officer in the KIOWA and Iowa Ducks Unlimited Organizations.

He is survived by his wife Ruth of North English; three daughters: Tami (Wendell) Marsh of North English; Tara (Steve) Heyne of North English; Trisha (Dan) Schwarzkopf of Cedar Rapids; four grandchildren: Hannah & Elijah Marsh and Olivia and Gage Heyne. Also surviving is his mother-in-law Yvonne Grimm of Williamsburg, IA; brothers-in-law: Ross Knipfer of North English, IA; Kenny (Sheryl) Grimm of Cantril, IA; Stanley (Debbie) Grimm of Newton, IA; Billie (Kathie) Grimm of Wayland, IA; Mo (Karla) Grimm of Gilbert, AZ; sisters-in-law: Jeannie (David) Fetzer of Williamsburg, IA; Rebecca (Don) Hadenfeldt of Williamsburg, IA; Beth (Keith) Levan of St. Ansgar, IA; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents and a sister Carol Knipfer.