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Obituary

Richard “Dick” Eugene Hatfield of Burlington, IA passed away in Burlington Hospice Care on March 4. Dick was born on January 30, 1932 in Humeston, Iowa to Marjorie Ella (Street) Hatfield and Kenneth Laurel Hatfield. On June 16, 1962 he married Rena Marie Johnson in Sioux Falls.
Dick graduated from Humeston HS and was a veteran of the US Air Force during the Korean Conflict. He received bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Drake University. He was an award-winning journalist at many midwestern newspapers, most notably the Des Moines Tribune. He was PR Director at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines and later joined Burlington Great River Medical Center as VP for Community Relations where he retired in 1996. After retirement, he continued to volunteer at the hospital.
Dick was a long-time member and elder emeritus at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Burlington where he served on several committees, including moderator. He taught Sunday school and was active in the Cedar Rapids Emmaus Community. He was a founding member of the men’s bible study group that met weekly for 20 years and a member of the Brothers in Blue prison ministry team. Family and friends would often say “Dick, are you going to prison again this weekend?”.
He was a member of the Kiwanis Club; the Board of Directors of the Caring Community of Des Moines/Louisa Counties; the board of directors of the Des Moines County Red Cross; and an Advisory committee member the Burlington office of the University of Iowa’s Child Health Specialty Clinic.
Dick enjoyed weekly card games with a couple’s group, bible study with friends and his swimming mates at the Great River Medical Center warm water pool where he soaked his arthritic bones. He loved camping, reading a good book and watching Iowa Hawkeyes sports on TV.
Dick is survived by his wife, Rena, a daughter Kimberly Gray (Cliff) of Quincy, IL; son Jeffrey (Liz) of Des Moines; six grandchildren; five great grandchildren; and two half-sisters. He was preceded in death by his parents, a half-brother and his son, Richard Scott Hatfield.
There will be a memorial service at First Christian Church (1221 Park Avenue) at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 6 which will follow COVID 19 protocols.
A memorial has been established at the church in his name.
The family wishes to thank Bickford Living; his Hospice nurses: and Dick’s church family for their many prayers over the years, and for helping him get to physician appointments, church, stores and bible study.