Richard Dean Henshaw

RICHARD DEAN “Dick” HENSHAW April 20, 1926 – July 5, 2018    Richard Dean “Dick” Henshaw, age 92, of Park Rapids, MN, formerly of Oelwein, Iowa, peacefully passed into eternity at the home of his daughter in Alexandria, MN on Thursday, July 5, 2018 following a period of declining health while being cared for by his loving family.    Dick was born in Sioux City (Leeds), Iowa on April 20, 1926 to Cecil and Amelia (Haaga) Henshaw. As a boy he attended the Hawthorne Elementary School and went on to attend the Leeds Public High School where he graduated with the Class of 1944. Following high school he entered the United States Army Air Corps (which later became the United States Air Force) where he served as a radio man in both WWII and the Korean War and had earned the rank of Sergeant before his honorable discharge on October 9, 1951. On April 6, 1948, Dick was united in marriage to Shirley Mae Gaul at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Alton, Iowa. Dick enjoyed a career with the Northwestern Bell Telephone Company in a career that spanned over 36 years. He started as a Lineman in Storm Lake, Iowa. He moved with his young wife to Oelwein, Iowa where he worked as an installer and he finished his years with what is now Century Link working out of the Central Office as a Crossbar Man until his retirement in November of 1983 when he and Shirley moved to Park Rapids, MN. Dick was very involved with his career and also did much volunteer work in his community. He was a life member of The Communications Workers of America. He was a 72 year lifetime member the American Legion. He was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus and was a past Grand Knight of the St. Mary’s Chapter of Two Inlets, MN. For 18 years, Dick has served as the Leader of the Sacred Heart Boy Scout Troop #49 of Oelwein, Iowa and had raised the necessary funds to take his troop to the 1964 Boy Scout Jamboree in Valley Forge, PA. He was a member of the 40 et. 8 Park Rapids, MN Chapter. For many years he volunteered his time to help the Iowa Highway Patrol establish rest stops for auto travelers throughout Iowa during the busy travel weekends of Memorial Day and Labor Day, serving coffee, juice and donuts to many weary travelers. He was a member of the NE Iowa Archery Club, the NRA, and the telephone Pioneers. For many years he served as a volunteer for the Iowa State Commission for the Blind where he worked tirelessly in repairing their talking books. He was elected to serve as a councilman of the Oelwein Iowa City Council. He was a faithful and active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Two Inlets and most recently had transferred his membership to St. Peter The Apostle Catholic Church after they had moved to Park Rapids. He and Shirley retired to the Park Rapids area in 1983. His other interests included: hunting, fishing, archery, wood carving, collecting and polishing rocks and gems, spending time outdoors and raising chickens. Above all, Dick will be remembered as a man who loved his wife, children and grandchildren with all his heart.    He will be lovingly remembered by his precious wife, Shirley of Park Rapids; his four children: Bonnie (Jerry) Spiegel of Peosta, Iowa, Rick (Alice) Henshaw of Maquoketa, Iowa, Betty Henshaw of Park Rapids, and Jane (Kevin) Richmond of Alexandria; his son-in-law, Andrew Knudson of Park Rapids; eleven grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter; as well as several nieces and nephews: Tim and Mari Ludwig, Peggy and Allen Hanson and Kathy and Paul Brada as well as other relatives and friends.    Dick was preceded in death by his daughter, Mary Ann; his parents and his sister, Shirley.    Funeral services will be held 11 AM Saturday, July 14, 2018 at the St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church with Rev. Thomas Friedl officiating. Interment will be made in the St. Peters Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 PM Friday, July 13 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home in Park Rapids and will continue on Saturday at the church one hour prior to the services. To leave on line condolences or to view the video tribute please visit www.jonespearson.com