Rev. Richard Iles

The Reverend Richard A. “Dick” Iles, 73, of Mt. Pleasant died Friday, October 9, 2015 at the Sunrise Terrace Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Winfield. The funeral service for Richard Iles will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 14 at the First United Methodist Church, Mount Pleasant. The Reverend Deborah J. Stowers will officiate. Burial will be in the Forest Home Cemetery with military honors conducted by the Henry County Honor Guard.
Friends may call from 12 Noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday, October 13 at the Kimzey Funeral Home, located at 213 North Main Street in Mount Pleasant. A Masonic service will be conducted by the Mt. Pleasant Lodge #8 AF & AM at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 13. The family will greet friends from 7-9 p.m. Tuesday and one hour prior to the service Wednesday. Those considering an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the Cancer Fund or the United Methodist Church. Online condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfuneralhome.com.
Richard Allen Iles was born March 22, 1942 in Mt. Pleasant. He was the son of Jacob Henry and LaVon Velma (Fleig) Iles. July 29, 1972 at the Wesley United Methodist Church in Ottawa, Richard was united in marriage to Peggy Louise Saner.
Richard graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School in 1960. For 20 years, Dick owned and operated the Iles Stockyard and Iles Trucking Company. He bought and sold hogs at the stockyard and transported all kinds of livestock. During that time, he entered the Iowa Army National Guard, where he served several years as a cook. His unit was called to active duty to serve in Vietnam, although the unit was never deployed. Also during that same time, Dick attended the former Burlington Community College (later Southeastern Community College) and graduated from Iowa Wesleyan College in 1966 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration.
In 1990, Richard entered the Dubuque Theological Seminary in Dubuque. He received his Masters of Divinity degree in 1993. Richard was ordained an Elder in the Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. He was appointed to the Pulaski and Troy churches, serving eight years. He was then appointed to the Fenton-Burt-Good Hope parish in northern Iowa, serving six years and then to the St. Paul and Forest Mills United Methodist Churches in Waukon in northeast Iowa, serving nine years until his retirement in June of 2014.
During his ministry, the Rev. Iles served on the Board of Camps for the Iowa Annual Conference. He later served and was the Chair for the Disabilities Commission of the conference. He served several years as a counselor at the former Camp Golden Valley near Lockridge. Because of his love of real airplanes, model airplanes and flying, Dick became a principal organizer and leader for the annual Air Show and Airplane Camp at Golden Valley.
Richard was a member of the Masonic Bodies in every community he lived. He was a member and Past Master of AF & AM lodges in Mt. Pleasant, Algona and Postville. He was also a Past Worthy Patron of the Order of the Eastern Star Chapters in Mt. Pleasant, Algona and Decorah, and he was a member of the Lions Club in Waukon.
Dick was a gifted mechanic and always kept a well-organized tool kit in every vehicle. He loved to take the time around Labor Day off to attend Midwest Old Threshers. He would use the time to paint a side of his house every year. He supported the Theater Museum in which the Schaffner Players’ Toby and Susie Shows are based, featuring his son, Brian, as Toby. Dick also played the accordion. When in Mt. Pleasant, he sang in the Chancel Choir and instructed the acolytes at First United Methodist Church. A “Master of the Highway”, Dick was constantly on the go.
Those thankful for sharing in Richard’s life include his wife, Peggy; a son, Brian Iles of Mt. Pleasant; a daughter and her husband, Kristy and Jerry Robison of Moravia; two grandchildren, Brody and Jennie Robison of Moravia; and a sister-in-law, Elaine Iles, and a nephew, Brett Iles, both of St. Augustine, FL. His parents and a brother, J.E. “Bud” Iles, precede Richard in death.