Richard L. (Dick) Clark, 58, of Grinnell passed away on Monday, September 2, 2013, at his home after a short and courageous cancer illness. A funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m., Friday, September 6, 2013, at the Grinnell Christian Church with Rev. John Epperson officiating. Casket Bearers will be Denny Clark, Nick Clark, Tim Bartlett, Denny Rankin, Steve Fenske, Mike Anderson, Kevin Hobbs and Bill Tish. Honorary Bearers will be Buck Morrison, Jason Rankin, Nathan Rankin, Ray Hunter, Bryan Morrison and Eliot Huff. Inurnment will be at a later date at Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell. Friends may call at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell beginning 12 noon on Thursday with the family present at the funeral home from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday. Should friends desire, memorials may be directed to Grinnell Regional Hospice or to the American Cancer Society. Dick was born on January 1, 1955, in Grinnell, IA to Richard E. and Marilyn Arthur Clark. He was raised in Grinnell and was a 1973 graduate of Grinnell High School. Some of his fondest memories from this time of his life were helping out at the Rankin farm west of Grinnell. Following graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and he became a member of the 82nd Airborne Division as a paratrooper. He was also in the Air Force National Guard and served on the Commission of Veteran's Affairs for Poweshiek County for several year and was also a member of the American Legion. On August 14, 1976, he was married to Kathy Fenske at the First Baptist Church in Grinnell. Dick and Kathy made their home in Grinnell where they lived for 37 years and raised their children; Denny, Andrea and Nick. He worked for Iowa Telecom, formerly General Telephone Company, for 31 years and at the time of his death he was employed by the Jacobson Company in Grinnell. Dick enjoyed life and he had a positive and fun loving attitude and he maintained this attitude throughout his illness. He especially enjoyed his role as Papa Dick. He looked forward to deer hunting each year, enjoyed following the Iowa Hawkeyes and loved John Wayne movies. He could usually be found at his 1605 ½ Summer Street Shop. Dick is survived by his wife, Kathy Clark of Grinnell; his children, Dennis (Beth) Clark of Grinnell, Andrea (Tim) Bartlett of Rochester, MN and Nicholas (Amelia) Clark of Woodward, IA. He was Papa Dick to his five grandchildren, Reagan, Sam and Max Bartlett and Laynie and Katie Clark. He is survived by his parents, Dick and Marilyn Clark of Grinnell; three sisters, Linda (Ray) Hunter of Kellogg, IA, Carla (Dennis) Rankin of Lineville, IA and Patty Arment of Grinnell; his father and mother-in-law, Gene and Mary Fenske of Grinnell; one brother-in-law, Steve Frenske of Grinnell; along with his aunts, an uncle, cousins, nephews and nieces. He was preceded into death by his paternal and maternal grandparents.