Richard Mennen

Richard Mennen, 84, of Mason City, died Sunday, January 13, 2008 at Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit. Memorial services will be held at 1:00 PM, Saturday, January 19, 2008 at Grace United Methodist Church, 200 14th St. N.W., with Rev. Steve Hansen officiating. A gathering of family and friends will be one hour prior to the service. Inurnment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery at a later date. Memorials may be directed to the Mark Mennen and Vickie Smidt Mennen Memorial Scholarship. Richard Henry Mennen was born January 14, 1923, in Aplington, Iowa, the son of Ecko and Florence (Deters) Mennen. After attending school, Richard joined the US Navy in 1944, serving with the Asiatic Fleet during WWII on USS Blackhawk. On June 20, 1948, he married Dixie Ann Geiler at the Grace Evangelical Church (now Grace United Methodist Church) in Mason City. He attended carpenter school after he returned from the service and worked for several contractors until his retirement. He was recalled to service during the Korean War and served aboard the U.S.S. Rendova, an aircraft carrier. He was an active member of both the Badra Group ship reunion and the U.S.S. Rendova reunions. Richard is survived by his wife Dixie Mennen of Mason City, one son: Paul J. Mennen of Chicago, Ill.; three grandchildren: Emily N. Chambers and husband Byron of Dallas, TX, Eric C. Mennen and wife Amanda of Tuscaloosa, AL; and Keri Bearden and husband Jim of Leeds, AL; two great grandchildren: twins Lauren and Tyler Chambers of Carrollton, TX; two brothers: Ecko Mennen and wife Helen of Waterloo, IA and Cecil Mennen and wife Evelyn of Columbus Junction, IA; five sisters: Elva Drier of Waterloo, IA, Eunice Kuhn of Charles City, IA, Imogene Moyle and husband Hartford of Springfield, MO, Delores Herington and husband Bob of Cedar Rapids, IA, and Rosalind Andreasen and husband Terry of Waterloo, IA; one brother-in-law: Vae Geiler of Sun City, AZ. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by one son: Mark G. Mennen, his parents and grandparents, daughter-in-law: Vickie Smidt Mennen; two sisters: Florence Janssen and Gertrude Neymeyer; one brother: Gordon C. Mennen; father and mother-in-law: Karl and Florence Geiler; two nieces, one nephew and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Visitation:
12:00 AM to 1:00 PM at 200 14th St. N.W. on January 19, 2008 (map/driving directions) 3:00 PM to 3:00 PM at 200 14th St. N.W. on January 14, 2008 (map/driving directions)

Service:
1:00 PM at 200 14th St. N.W. on January 19, 2008 (map/driving directions)