Richard "Dick" Burnett

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Richard “Dick” Edward Burnett, 80, of Lacona on Saturday, October 16, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Lacona, Iowa. Family will receive friends on Friday, October 15, 2021, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., with a Rosary held at 6:30 p.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Lacona. Memorials may be made to the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Lacona or the Lacona Fire Department.

You may join Dick's family via livestream at https://my.gather.app/remember/richard-burnett-2021

Richard was born on October 5, 1941, to Kenneth R. Burnett and Madeline L. (Pray) Burnett in Des Moines, Iowa. He grew up in West Des Moines, attending Sacred Heart Catholic School and graduating from Dowling High School with the class of 1960. He grew up riding his horse in the fields that have become the suburbs.

After high school, Dick worked for Delavan, and at the age of 24 he was drafted and served two years in the United States Army. Dick met the love of his life, Roberta J. “Bobbie” Dittmer, and the two were married on June 27, 1970. The couple was blessed with five children: Brandon, Shaun, Kristin, Allison, and Russell.

In 1977 Dick and Bobbie moved their young family from the edge of the little city of West Des Moines to a small farm near Lacona to be closer to Bobbie’s family and the advantages of a rural upbringing. He taught his kids to fish and hunt, and they enjoyed roaming around exploring the woods and creeks of southern Iowa. "God's country" as he would sometimes say. This location for a home cost him a lot of commuting time to jobs at Penn Dixie/Martin Marietta in West Des Moines and General Mills in Avon Lake, but it was worth the investment in his kids that gave them an appreciation for the outdoors, family, and small town Iowa. Dick retired from General Mills in 2006.

Dick was a very hard worker, but he made time for doing things he loved like being outdoors and enjoying the land. Dick took pleasure in making his farm and lawn look nice. He always had a garden and was an avid deer and bird hunter. He was also fond of fishing and tending to his cattle (even making a point to name his cows). He had a love for all animals, especially dogs and cats.

Dick also liked "his toys,”' whether it was new tools, guns, or a Commodore 128 computer for the family in the 1980s. He and Bobbie invested in their children’s education with such things as that computer, a set of encyclopedias, and helping them with schooling. He enjoyed woodworking, whether it was creating a deluxe workbench or a simple towel rack.

He would often go for drives through the countryside, which sometimes included covert missions to Rudy’s or to Melcher for ice cream and/or pie. He had a sweet tooth and loved his candy; sometimes he would even share. His children and grandchildren meant the world to him, and spending time with family was always special, especially if food was involved.

Dick will be greatly missed by his wife of fifty-one years, Bobbie; children: Brandon (Anne Marie) Burnett, Shaun Burnett, Kristin (Rusty) McClure, Allison (Tim) Harms, and Russell Burnett; 9 grandchildren: Duncan, Emma, and Elise Burnett, Samuel and Tyler McClure, Katelin and Jaxon Harms, and Brooklyn and Siarra Burnett; sisters: Linda Cain, Jan Davis, and Joyce Pardock; and many other relatives and friends.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Madeline Burnett; and brothers, Danny Burnett and Ronnie Burnett.