Obituaries : Richard Scheer

Richard Scheer, 93, passed away on December 2, 2025 at Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha following a short illness.

Visitation will be Thursday, December 11, 2025, at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church (4700 Johnson Ave. NW, Cedar Rapids) at 12:30 p.m. with a service and full military honors following at 2:00 p.m. There will be a private interment at Sisley Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to the Bone Marrow Transplantation Fund at www.foriowa.org, Pheasants Forever (your local chapter), or St. Mark’s United Methodist Church.

Rich was born October 22, 1932, in Independence, IA, the youngest of nine children. Growing up on farms near Whittier and West Branch, he developed a love of animals and was often seen on horseback. Rich graduated from Atkins High School in 1951 before entering the U.S. Army. He was an artillery instructor and excellent marksman. Rich attained the rank of Corporal and was honorably discharged in 1954. He was proud of his military service and kept the national colors flying on the farm. Two years later he married his high school sweetheart, Donna Mumford. They were blessed with three daughters and made their family home on Maple Grove Farm where they still live today.

Rich was a dedicated father and grandfather, always taking time to play, attend events, and lead family trips. He was a natural engineer with the ability to fix or create better ways of doing things. Rich worked as a brick layer, in radio assembly, and copy machine repair before starting a business with his best friend and brother-in-law, Jerry Hampton. For 28 years Rich and Jerry worked as owners of and salesmen for Central Systems.

Rich was community minded, always helping out with a variety of projects. Over the years he taught CPR, coordinated bone marrow drives, led church youth groups, organized the annual Atkins parade, coached girl’s town softball, and served on the Atkins Telephone Company Board of Directors. Rich was an active member of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church for many years. His faith was very important to him; he and Donna prayed together every night. Rich had the uncanny ability to appear in the kitchen just as something sweet was coming out of the oven! He enjoyed the outdoors, whether he was hunting, working on the farm, checking out the “livestock” via the 4-wheeler, Polaris, or the front porch. Over the years, Rich became a staunch advocate for both prairie and woodland restoration, receiving recognition for his work and vision. His family is committed to continuing his conservation legacy.

Rich is survived by his wife of 69 years, Donna; his daughters, Martha (Mark Divitt), Susan ScheerDhein (Joel Dhein), and Jane (Rob Hursh); grandchild, Olivia Dhein; special niece, Ann Hampton Grant; and many friends and family.

Rich is preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Edith Scheer; his siblings, Deloras, Donald (Phyllis), Geneva (Leonard) Stewart, Geraldine (Jerry) Hampton, VaNita, Robert (Claire), Dorance (Dorothy), and Charles (Jo); as well as many four-legged friends, including his beloved black lab, Ben.

A special thanks to Rich’s in-home caregiver, Theresa Bries; Nikki Sporrer of MercyCare; Mercy Medical Center fourth-floor staff; and the Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy for their exceptional care.