Richard Biase

On July 12th, 2021, Richard Biase, 77, passed away peacefully with his children by his side, in his home in Urbandale. Born in the borough of Manhattan on December 26th, 1943 to Domenick Frank Biase and Margaret Mary Biase (Schmitt), Richard grew up in the Bronx, New York. Richard graduated from Samuel Gompers Vocational and Technical High School in 1961 and then pursued his education in engineering, graduating from the City College of New York.

Richard enjoyed a long career as an electrical engineer for Bendix Corporation (later, Allied Signal and now Honeywell) where he worked on security systems for domestic transportation of nuclear weapons, lunar rovers, and guidance systems for the Pershing missile which would occasionally bring him to the White Sands Missile Range near Green River, Utah where the Pershing missile test launches occurred and to White Sands, New Mexico where over 400 miles to the south, the missile would have final impact.

After an early retirement from Honeywell, Richard enjoyed a twilight career as a stock broker for Morgan Stanley/Smith Barney. This had been a lifelong dream of his and he was passionate about investing. Other retirement jobs included the Home Depot; a school custodian so he could be close to his grandkids; and Maywine Remodeling, LLC, a ‘corporation’ of one, turning his interest and skills of landscaping, hardscapes, basement remodels and home repair into a business to help family and friends. He also liked making alterations to architectural plans, adding a closet here, angling a wall there, to maximize the space in several of the homes he lived in.

Richard enjoyed many other hobbies as well, including sailing his sailboat on Lake Jacomo near Lee’s Summit, Missouri, playing city league ice hockey, and co-owning/operating The Grab Joint with his brother-in-law and friend Jack. Richard sold Italian sausage sandwiches and the cleverly marketed “double beer dog” out of The Grab Joint at The Ruan Great Des Moines Gran Prix, several festivals in both Des Moines and Kansas City, and even in South Dakota for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

Mainly, Richard just liked spending time with his family and friends. He is survived by his children, Jean Renee Biase Klein (Jeff Klein) of Urbandale, Joseph (Nicole) Biase of Clive, and Eric Biase (Megan Tomlin) of Johnston; eight grandchildren: Dylan, Gavin, Avery, Pasque, Ezra, Ephraim, Eliza, and Marley; previous step-children: Carrie Edwards-Keil, Lisa (John) Boeck, and Brandon Nachbar; as well as five more grandchildren: Gavin, Jackson, Lilly, Madison and Keenen. Richard is predeceased by his parents, Domenick and Margaret Biase and his sister, Margaret Lloyd.

Family would like to extend our gratitude to Suncrest Hospice and the caregivers from Senior Helpers, and Right At Home. Their genuine care for Richard helped make it possible for him to spend his last year being cared for in his home. If you are inclined to make a Memorial Gift, family asks that donations be made online or at the service to the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.