Richard Warnell

Richard “Dick” James Warnell, 74, passed away Sunday, September 30, 2018, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines with his entire family by his side. A memorial gathering will be held on Saturday, October 13, 2018, at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home, starting at 1:00 p.m. and lasting until 3:00 p.m. During that time, the family has requested friends to share their favorite stories of Dick. To offer condolences, please visit www.Mitchellfh.com or call (641)-844-1234. Memorial contributions may be made to the family, to be used at a later date once a fund has been established. The Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Dick and his family.  Dick was born on February 26, 1944, in Marshalltown, Iowa, to parents Clay Webster and Charlcie Marie (Godfrey) Warnell. Dick was united in marriage to the love of his life Donna Cope in Marshalltown on October 11, 1963; from this union their two children were born. Dick was the owner of R.J. Warnell Trucking; he enjoyed trucking so much that he saw to it that his family members knew how to drive. He could teach his family just about anything; the man knew it all. In his younger days, he enjoyed teaching his grandkids how to hunt, fish, and most importantly, light firecrackers. His grandsons had the time of their lives with him, from traveling with him on the road to learning the mechanics of a semi. Up until the very end, Dick was dedicated to always helping his family. He was not only a hard worker, but also a very talented cook. When you entered his home, his first words were always, “Are you hungry? Can I make you a hamburger?” In his free time Dick loved to wander across the yard over to his son’s house to lend a helping hand. Dick was an extraordinary family man; whether it was a holiday or just a babysitting adventure, the grandkids would end up at the creek with an entire day of memories and stories to tell. Dick’s humor was endless; it brought joy and laughter to not only his family, but also strangers on the street. He had a story for everything, and some of them are almost impossible to believe. Dick went by many names:  Pope Dick, Colonel Dick, Big Dick from Timber Crick, Senator Dick, and the best of all, Dad and Grandpa Dick.  “Now Grandpa, put that 18-wheeler in the wind, head north and take it on home. When you get home, pop the brakes and shut her down, throw those log books out the window and call it a day! Until we see you again, take it slow and easy. Go, Grandpa!”  Dick touched many lives and will be missed by countless friends and family members.  Left to cherish Dick’s memory is his wife Donna of 55 years; children Teresa (Mike) Peters of Marshalltown, IA, and Scott (Lori) Warnell of Marshalltown, IA; grandchildren Travis Peters, Cody (Shawna) Peters, Jake (Brittany) Peters, Colton (Sierra) Warnell, Clayton Warnell, Jessica Meyer, and Jordan Meyer; great-grandchildren Alexa (Myles), Conner, Ashlynn, Wyatt, Abby, J.J., Cullen, Briley, Jaylen, Kennedy, Briten, and Berlynn;  and brothers Gary Warnell, Terry (Trudy) Warnell and Wayne (Tonya) Warnell.   He is preceded in death by his parents Clay and Charlcie Marie, brother Larry, and many other relatives.