Dick Downing - 
Osceola

Dick Downing, 51, of Osceola died May 4, 2011, as the result of injuries from an auto accident near Afton.

Services were 10 a.m. today, May 9, at Kale Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St., Osceola. The Rev. Josh Steward officiated. Memorials may be directed to his family for a fitting tribute to be decided at a later date.

Dick Dean Downing, son of Elva (Phillips) and Arlan Downing, was born June 23, 1959, in Leon.

Dick graduated from Clarke Community High School in 1978. He then went on to graduate from Southwestern Community College in 1980 and Truman State University in 1982 with a bachelor’s degree in education.

On July 31, 1982, Dick married Debra Ann Leeka in Osceola.

Dick taught school in the Amana School system and worked in the Amana Furniture shop for five years.

In 1988, they moved back to the Osceola area, where Dick worked as a carpenter and salesman. He eventually started Dick’s Custom Woodworking, building custom cabinets and furniture.

In 2001, he began working at I-35 Schools as the building and grounds director, and in 2005, returned to teaching at Southwestern Community College.

Dick started with SWCC as the instructor for the high school carpentry program in Osceola.

In December 2006, Dick became instructor for the college carpentry program in Creston.

Dick was a youth leader with New Virginia United Methodist Church.

Dick is survived by his wife Deb of Osceola; sons, Dennis (wife Ashley) Downing of Winterset and Ben Downing (girlfriend McKenzee Bass) of Osceola; mother Elva Downing of Osceola; brothers, Darwin Downing (friend Ann March) of Osceola, Doug (wife Pam) Downing of Des Moines and David (wife Cinda) Downing of Woodburn; sister Elizabeth “Beth” (husband Brent) Rahn of Columbia, Mo.; mother-in-law Ramona Leeka of Osceola; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.

Dick was preceded in death by his father; brother Dennis and father-in-law Ival LaVere Leeka.