Richard Calonkey Sr., 70, of Woodward passed away Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016, at his home in Woodward, Iowa.
Visitation will be Thursday, Sept. 15 from 5-8 p.m., with family present from 6-8 p.m. at the Carris Family Funeral Home in Perry. A private family graveside service will be at the Woodward Cemetery in Woodward.
Memorials will be given to Woodward Rescue Unit, 301 S. Main St., P.O. Box 142, Woodward, IA 50276 or the charity of your choice and may be left at the Carris Family Funeral Home.
Richard Dean Calonkey Sr. was born Oct. 21, 1945, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Henry Maurice and Ruth Francis (Todd) Calonkey.
He attended school at Woodward High School and Drake University.
He apprenticed for four years with the Carpenter’s Local 106 and later the Division of Labor Institute in Chicago.
Richard was united in marriage to Billie Jean Sipe at Prairie Center Methodist Church Oct. 5, 1963.
He was a carpenter by trade and started farming on his family farm in 1972. He loved gardening, farming and loved children.
He worked for the Iowa Division of Labor as an OSHA Inspector from 1991 through 2007 and was much respected by his co-workers.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Ruth Calonkey.
He is survived by his wife, Billie Jean Calonkey; children, Connie Calonkey Ingram of Woodward and Richard (Gina) Calonkey Jr. of Woodward; grandchildren, Christopher Ingram of Cedar Rapids, Matthew Ingram of Woodward, Samuel Calonkey, a foreign exchange student in Japan, and Cole Calonkey of Woodward; siblings, Kay Calonkey Brickner of Palmdale, Calif., and Henry W. Calonkey of Scranton; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Saddend by the news. My prayers are with you and your family!
Billy and family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you all. I have fond memories of the fun get togethers spent with you in Woodward.
So sad to read this. Many condolences.