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Richard Meisel, 70

Richard Meisel, 70, of Marshalltown, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, January 23, at UnityPoint Health in Marshalltown.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 27, at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. He will be laid to rest with full military honors by the Combined VFW/ American Legion Honor Guard. Visitation will be held one-hour prior to the services. In lieu of flowers, the family would like memorials to go to the American Heart Association, American Legion or the Disabled American Veterans Charity. For condolences or questions, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or phone 641-844-1234.

Born on January 8, 1948, at the Crawford County Hospital, he was the son of John Nicholas and Viola (Behrend) Meisel. He and his sister were raised near Manilla, Iowa, until 1960, when they moved with their mother to Guttenburg, IA. In 1962, the family moved to Marshalltown. Dick was “adopted” as such by Jim Lovig at Jim Lovig Standard Station. He and his friends always referred to Jim as “Pop’s” and somehow conned him into letting he and his friends use the station to work on cars after hours. Dick graduated from the Marshalltown High School in 1966 in the new building. After graduation, he served our country honorably in the United States Army. Soon after discharge from the Army, he began his career with the railroad and retired as a conductor for Union Pacific Railroad. The caboose on South 6th Street was the caboose he served as conductor on and he was instrumental in volunteering to restore it. He traveled many miles Mason City to Marshalltown in it.

In 1978, he met the love of his life, Kathy Giarratano. They have shared nearly 40 years together. They made their home across the street from the golf course-a place he dearly loved to be. He was an active member of the American Legion, National Association of Retired and Veteran Railway Employees and enjoyed his time with friends and family alike. From a young age, Dick enjoyed sports of all kinds. He never would choose between the Hawkeyes or Cyclones unless they played each other. He also enjoyed traveling, photography, motorcycles and his pet cats.

Left to celebrate his life are Kathy, his loving wife; sister Kathryn Stuckmyer, of West Des Moines; brothers and sisters-in-law: Thomas Anthony (Terri) Giarratano, Nancy Marie (Leon) Gealow, Theresa (Bill) Cound, Stephen Joseph Giarratano and Michael Anthony Giarratano; his sister-in-law Patricia Meisel, of Omaha; nephew Anthony Stuckmyer, niece Laurie MacDonald and family and nephew Boyd Meisel and family, and many other nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

In death, Dick rejoined his father, his mother, stepfather Duane Andrews and brother Ronald who died in 2007.

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