Richard Wadsley

Funeral services for Richard Wadsley were held Saturday, February 12, 2005, 11:00 a.m., at the United Methodist Church in Early, Iowa, with Rev. Karl Schiltz officiating. Burial was at the Early Union Cemetery under the direction of the Farber & Otteman Funeral Home.

Richard Ross Wadsley was born May 3, 1955, in Storm Lake, Iowa, to Richard Mahlon and Rose Lee Eldridge Wadsley. He grew up on the farm northeast of Early that was purchased by his great-grandparents in 1888 and where his father and grandfather were born and reared. Richard attended Crestland Public School, graduating in 1973. In 1975 he graduated from Iowa Lakes Community College in Emmetsburg where he studied mechanics. He was married to Deborah Susan Torrence from Graettinger on September 16, 1978, and to this union two children were born—Nicole LeAnn and Nathan Richard.

Richard was well known as an excellent mechanic who worked on farm machinery both professionally and as a hobby. Professionally he held mechanics and sales positions in Estherville and Storm Lake and owned Wadsley’s Ag Service in Early. A favorite hobby was participation with his brother Rodney in mini-tractor pulls where they won a number of trophies. These contests were also pleasurable family outings with Nicole, Nathan, and Deb. He was good friends with many of the people connected with the Nemaha Tractor Promenade and helped prepare many of their tractors. Perhaps his favorite project was installing a V-8 engine in an M Farmall tractor and making it look like an original from the factory.

Later in life Richard discovered riding and working with horses and found joy in riding trips around the country and at the Garst farm. He also became very interested and involved in wood art and the past two years demonstrated a great deal of artistic talent with intarsia. His favorite creations were western themes, horses in particular.

Richard was a member of the Methodist Church, the Fonda Horse Club, the Fonda Saddle Club, served as a volunteer fireman, and had EMT training. Many people remember him as easy-going, easy to talk to, and well-versed in many subjects. He enjoyed annual vacations with his family.

Richard is survived by his children, Nicole LeAnn Wadsley of Ottumwa and Nathan Richard Wadsley of Titonka, and their mother, Deborah Wadsley of Titonka; his father, Richard M. Wadsley of Early; two brothers, Rodney James Wadsley of Early and Robert Leslie Wadsley and his wife Barbara of Linn Grove; two sisters, Rebecca Jane Strange of Phoenix, AZ, and Roberta Jean Hudson and her husband Greg of Chillicothe, IL; and his grandson, Blaine Daniel Wadsley of Ottumwa.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Rose Lee Wadsley, and a sister, Rachel Lee Wadsley.