Richard "Dick" L. Plude

Richard “Dick” Leroy Plude, 86, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on June 9, 2023. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at McLaren’s Resthaven Chapel in West Des Moines. Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 14, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with burial at Resthaven Cemetery.

Dick was born March 12, 1937 to Louis and Myrtle Plude in Des Moines, Iowa. He was raised in Des Moines and graduated from East High School in 1955. Upon graduation, Dick served his country with the Iowa Air National Guard as an Apprentice Weapons Technician from 1955 to 1958. Upon discharge from the service, Dick followed in his father’s footsteps becoming a printing pressman. He began his career by attending a trade school for pressmen at Meredith Corporation. After two years at Meredith he worked with Matthew Brothers for ten years and retired from Graphic Corporation with over 30 years of service to the company. At the end of his career Dick said "being a pressman is a good life - you get out of it just what you want to put into it. Graphic has been good to me, I've enjoyed working here". Dick's impact was felt by all who worked with him being described as an "excellent craftsman", "dedicated employee", "knows his printing", and "the ideal person to work with".

In 1965, Dick met the love of his life, Mary, and was married five years later on Valentine’s Day, bringing two families together into one. The father of his son, Steve and daughter Connie, Dick gained another daughter, Kathy and son, Ron in the marriage. He felt his greatest accomplishment was being dad to all four kids!

Dick loved fishing and going up to his father and mother-in-law’s farm to help out with bringing in the crops and tending to the livestock. Every year you could find Dick and his family fishing in Minnesota and later to the lakes of Canada flying in to fish for pike and walleye. After the kids left home Dick and Mary could be found at Lake Panorama enjoying their boat and time together. Dick absolutely loved to travel! He and Mary traveled extensively from coast to coast and often abroad visiting family and friends.

His smile was as genuine as his good nature was to others, always cheerful; you would never find Dick in a bad mood. If you wanted advice, Dick was happy to give it to you!

Dick is survived by his loving wife of over 53 years, Mary; children, Steve (Jan), Connie (Paul) and Ron (Michelle); sister, Beverly; brother, Louis, grandchildren, Mike and Mark Olson, Ian, Jerle and Preston Plude, Julie and Craig Mitchell and Beth Harbeck who was like a granddaughter to him and Mary. He was also blessed to have seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; father and mother-in-law, George and Ethel Meissen, two brothers, Roy Henry and Tom; sister, Lillian; and daughter, Kathy Olson.

The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to the staff at UnityPoint Methodist Hospital for the outstanding care and compassion given by everyone during their time of need.