Richard "Dick" Ealy

One of the best joke tellers and most avid fisherman in the country left us last week. After a persistent fight Richard “Dick” Ealy won his battle with ALS on May 19, 2016 and went home to accept his winning the lottery in heaven. The funeral service for Richard “Dick” Ealy of Wadena will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 24, at the St. John Lutheran Church in Wadena, with Pastor Stephen Meltzer presiding. Visitation will be held on Monday at the Johnson-Schuller Chapel in Wadena from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. with a Time of Sharing at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will resume at the church on Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service. Born to George and Norma (Thomson) Ealy on November 2, 1943 in Belle Plaine, Iowa. He graduated with the class of 1961 from Belle Plaine High School. On October 24, 1964 he was united in marriage with Bonnie Wallace, the union was blessed with three sons, Don, Eric, and Tim. He spent his working life in the hybrid seed corn industry starting in research at Funk Bros. Seed Company in Belle Plaine for ten years. After accepting a job as District Sales Manager with Peterson-Biddick Company, Richard moved the family to Sartell, MN. When he became production manager in 1979, the family moved to Wadena. He also worked for Crop Production Services and Leaf River Ag in Wadena. Richard even explored hybrid seed production one winter in Mexico. After retirement he and Bonnie spent several winters working/vacationing in Puerto Rico reading grow-outs for various seed companies to establish quality control. With his vast expertise in the field, he continued to advise and consult with area farmers and enjoyed staying in contact with the agricultural business. Richard was a member and elder of St. John’s Lutheran Church. He was a Wadena Rotarian, a member of the Wadena Deer Hunters, the Ames Angler Fishing Club of Ames, IA and a member of the Knob Hill Sportsmen Club in Wadena.. Richard was preceded in death by his parents George and Norma; brother Edward Ealy and uncles, Merlin and Ronald "Spive" Ealy. He is survived by the love of his life for 51 years, Bonnie; sons, Don (Angie) of Baxter, Eric of Crystal and Tim (Kari) of New Prague; grandchildren, Eric’s daughter Samantha, Tim’s son Dylan, Don’s daughter Maureen and newly born triplets, Isaac, Grace, and Emmett Ealy; and his uncle, Neal Ealy. Honorary pallbearers will be Bob and Karen Wallgren, Gary and Judy Condiff, Paul and Phyllis Friedrich, George and Julie Deiss, Harry and Judy Taves, and Norm and Bev Nicholson. Serving as pallbearers will be Greg Malone, Harry Taves, Dana Uselman, Don Lubitz, Michael Bondzin, Ricky Schwartz, and Kevin Lohmiller. Burial will be in the Wadena Cemetery.

Richard "Dick" Ealy

November 2, 1943 - May 19, 2016