BLAIRSTOWN:  Richard "Dick" Van Kerckvoorde, age 56, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, January 22, 2007 at his residence, after a courageous battle with cancer.
     A Celebration Of Life Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 AM, Thursday, January 25, 2007 at Phillips Funeral Home Chapel, 212 E. 6th St., in Vinton with Rev. Robert Westberry and Rev. Loel Fink officiating.  The M. J. Kirby American Legion Post #170 of Blairstown will conduct a Flag Presentation at the service.   Friends may call at the funeral home (212 E 6th St.) from 4-7 PM, Wednesday.  
     Dick was born June 15, 1950 at Belle Plaine to Frank and Opal (Border) Van Kerckvoorde and graduated from Benton Community High School in 1968.  He served his nation in the US Army Reserves from 1969 to 1975.
     On October 3, 1970 he married Renee Brecht at Blairstown.  Dick was employed as a Tooling Tech/Engineer in the Plastics Dept. of Whirlpool/Amana Appliances for over thirty-eight years.  Dick enjoyed fishing and gardening.  He loved his family especially his grandchildren and his greatest joy came from teaching God's Word.
     He is survived by his wife, Renee of Blairstown; his children, Tabitha (Mike) Lanman of Keosauqua, and Mindy (Chad) Martin of Cedar Rapids; his grandchildren, Seth, Mikayla and Olivia Lanman and Raegan, and Samuel Martin; his mother, Opal Van Kerckvoorde of Belle Plaine; his brother, Steve (Char) Van Kerckvoorde of Ames; and his brothers-in-law, Butch (Bobbie) Brecht of Marengo, Dick (Sharon) Kelly of Burlington, KY, and Dale (Alicia) Thomsen of Mt. Vernon.
     His father, Frank Van Kerckvoorde preceded him in death.
     A Memorial Fund has been established for the Anna Purna Ghosh Foundation and Hospice of Mercy.