Obituaries : Dick Clark Sailer

Dick Clark Sailer, 72, Independence, formerly of Vinton, died Sunday, December 8, 2013 at West Village Care Center in Independence.

Visitation will be 4 to 6 pm Wednesday, December 11, 2013, at Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home in Vinton.  Funeral services will be 10 am Thursday, December 12, at Blessed Hope Church in Vinton with Rev. Peter Lolagne officiating.  Private burial at Evergreen Cemetery, Vinton. 

Dick Clark Sailer was born June 21, 1941 at Jefferson, IA, the son of Dale and Kathryn Pischel Sailer.  He graduated from Coon Rapids High School.  The family later relocated to the Walker, IA, area. 

On November 2. 1963, he was united in marriage to Leota McNeal at the Assembly of God church in Vinton. They made their home in Vinton until 1979 until they moved to Independence.

Dick worked a variety of jobs, including several years at Wilson's meatpacking and Iowa Manufacturing in Cedar Rapids.  For twenty-eight years he was an over the road trucker, retiring from Jensen Transport in Independence in 2003. 

He was a hard worker who could fix and create anything. He loved to tinker in his garage and was skilled at diagnosing and fixing any kind of car problem.  In his younger years, he was known for his love of a fast car, much to the chagrin of the neighborhood police.

He was a loving father to his two daughters and grandpa to eight grandchildren. His family was of the utmost importance to him. He was dedicated to his church serving as an usher most of his life.  

Dick is survived by his wife, Leota and daughter, Becky (Peter) Lolagne both of Independence and daughter, Valerie (Dean) Close, Brandon; brother, David (Kathy) Sailer, Baytown, TX; sisters, Eva (Gary) Mueller, Albuquerque, NM, Marjorie (Bill) Kirkpatrick, Cedar Rapids, and Carol (Leroy) Haberl, Carroll, IA; eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren. 

He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Thelma Sailer and Joan (Leslie) Coleman.

A memorial fund has been established.  

Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home, Vinton, is caring for Dick and his family.  Condolences may be left at www.vsrfh.com