Richard Douglas Ash

There will be a Celebration of Life October 30, 2026, at 1:30pm at Prairie Ridge Church, 825 NW 36th St, Ankeny, IA 50023. Family would like everyone to wear their favorite sports team apparel.

Dick was born in St Louis, Missouri on November 30, 1947, to Evan Arnold Ash (Sr.) and Ada Maie (Ladage) Ash. The family moved to Omaha, NE in 1956.

He graduated from Omaha North High School in 1965 and worked about nine months at the Omaha World Herald before entering the U.S. Army in March 1966. After training stationing in the states, Dick served three years as a Personnel NCO with the 14th Armed Cavalry in Fulda, Germany and eighteen months as Induction NCO at the Houston Armed Forces Examining and Entrance Station. He was honorably discharged in December 1971 after serving almost six years.

In 1974, while working with the US Department of Agriculture at the stockyards in Omaha, Dick Started working on his college degrees at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He completed a Bachelor of General Studies (magna cum laude) degree in August 1976, and a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Nebraska in December 1977.

Dick worked in municipal government as City Clerk and Assistant city Manager in Concordia, KS; City Manager in Belleville, KS; city Administrator in Norton, KS; and Director of Community Services and Assistant City Manager in Ankeny, IA. His municipal government service covered over 33 years from March 1978 to December 2011.

Dick contributed time and financial support to his church, Samaritan’s Purse, local food banks and homeless shelters. He is a member of Prairie Ridge Church in Ankeny. He served as President of the board of Child Relief Foundation, Inc. which built a school and administers a Christian education for middle and high school children in Liberia.

Dick was previously married to Michaela Marie Dunning of Omaha, NE, Lana Sue Williams of Belleville KS, and Sharmie Ann Stevenson of Ankeny IA. There were no children born in those marriages.

Dick is preceded in death by his father and mother.

He is survived by his brother Rev. Evan (Jr.) and Lynn Ash of Overland Park KS; sister Marilyn Ash of Waverly, NE; four nieces, Stephanie, Heather, Lindsay and Kristen; five stepchildren, RaeAnn, Hannah, Josiah, Moriah and Micah; and his companion Joanie Coates.

Memorials should be given to Samaritan’s Purse in Boone, NC, or Hope Ministries/Bethel Mission in Des Moines or Prairie Ridge Church in Ankeny.