Richard "Dick" Lee Sterling

Richard (Dick) Lee Sterling, age 87, of Knoxville, passed away on Saturday, December 18, 2021, in Hospice Care at Knoxville Hospital & Clinics in Knoxville.
Richard was born on August 2, 1934, at the family home south of Knoxville in Marion County, Iowa, to Everette and Madge (Wilson) Sterling. Dick’s family moved to Lovilia in August, 1935, and he graduated from Lovilia High School in the class of 1952. On January 7, 1956, Dick and Lily Lucille Jones VanLoon were united in marriage in Ottumwa, Iowa. Dick adopted Lily’s two children, Vicki and Ross, and they added a third child to their family with the birth of a daughter, Gwen. The couple began their married life in Lovilia and eventually lived in a total of 13 homes during their marriage, with most of it spent in Knoxville. Dick went to work for Maytag in August, 1952, where he began his career working on the assembly line. He completed Maytag’s pipefitter apprenticeship program and eventually became a maintenance supervisor. He was a loyal Maytag employee for 41 years, retiring in 1993. In his personal life, he was a jack-of-all-trades and spent his entire life helping others. Dick was a devoted husband and father, a man of devout faith, and a member of the First United Methodist Church.
Those left to honor his memory include his daughter, Vicki (Richard) Tonda and son, D. Ross (Susan) Sterling; six grandchildren, Joe (Billie) Komarek, Rick (Erin) Tonda, Amy (Dan) Sterling Botos, Heather Tonda Asperger, Jeramy (Cassandra) Komarek, and Abbey (Ronnie) Sterling Mander; and many great grandchildren and great great grandchildren; son-in-law, Randy Jones; sisters-in-law, Beverly Sterling, Lucretia Spaur, and Louretta Redding; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Dick was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Lily; his daughter, Gwen Jones; his parents; and his siblings, Glenn Sterling, Karen Courtney, Jack Sterling, and Marilyn VandenBerg.
Visitation for Dick will be held on Wednesday, December 29, 2021 at the First United Methodist Church in Knoxville from 10:30 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. A funeral service will be held at 11:30 A.M. at the church. Following services, burial will take place at Graceland Cemetery in Knoxville. A luncheon will be held following services at the church. Memorials may be given in Dick’s memory to the Knoxville First United Methodist Church.