Dick Roy Downing

Dick Roy Downing, 79, of Okoboji and Ankeny Iowa, passed away on December 18, 2022 surrounded by family.

Dick the Son:
Dick was born on March 8, 1943, to Ruth (Townsend) and Basil Downing in Des Moines, Iowa. Dick attended grade school in Spencer, Iowa and High School in Arnolds Park, Iowa. Many of his adolescent years were spent working around the Iowa Great Lakes area and running around with his friends. Dick worked on the Queen, mowed lawns around the lake, including the home owned by the Swanson family of Swanson Frozen foods.

After leaving Arnolds Park High School, Dick joined the United States Navy. He was a crew member of the USS William V Pratt DLG 13 where he served as a boatswain's mate. During this time, his ship was stationed out of Norfolk, VA operating as part of Destroyer Squadron (DesRon) 18 where it patrolled the Atlantic seaboard and West Indies. His ship later sailed to Europe to partake in NATO exercises. Dick was known to his crew mates as "Feet", and at 6' 3" he stood out among the other crew. The ship's captain took a shining to Dick after finding out he could sew, a skill taught to him by his mother. This skill-set led to Dick providing sewing services to many on the ship and sewing sails for senior staff's children's sail boats.

Dick the Entrepreneur:
After leaving the service Dick made his way back to Des Moines where he worked for Meredith Printing Corporation on the printing press lines. While Dick was a hard worker, he could see the evolution of his job would lead to its eventual disappearance. For a while, he had side jobs such as owning a service station, selling potatoes, and flipping cars. In his heart, though, he wanted to be a salesman. While still working at Meredith he began selling floor cleaner for a local company. Over time, Dick built up a client base, traveling on his off days, and during plant strikes. The company he was selling for changed hands and eventually the new company informed him they were no longer going to make products he was selling due to FDA GMP rules. Not wanting to lose what he had worked hard to build, Dick took out a loan against their house and drove to a machine show in Chicago and bought his first filling machine. Unable to pay the union movers at the show to haul out the machine he disassembled it and carried it part by part down the fire escape to his grandfather's Ford F100. By the time the union movers figured out what he was doing the last parts were in the truck and he was headed back to Des Moines. He rented out a building and quit his job at Meredith. Qualis was born. For the next 30 years the company made a wide array of products including human and animal pharmaceutics, wall putty, roach motels, udder balm, and liquid fish bait just to name a few.

Dick the Husband:
Dick and Roxi met on a blind date, Roxi was a sub for a friend. When asked what they thought of each other after the first date it may surprise you they would end up married. Alas the long cool woman in a black dress had his attention so he upped his game and went back for a second date. His persistence won her over. They soon married on May 5, 1973. They were soul mates. They worked as a team, raising kids, running a business and helping each other achieve their personal goals. Dick’s love for his wife never waned. He bought her flowers weekly for almost 50 years. When he was on the road working or doing car stuff with his friends, he would always take time to check in with her, hear about her day and tell her that he loved her. He was happy to be her chauffeur for shopping trips, a run to the casino or an appointment at the salon. Over the last year even as his health waned, making sure she had what she needed was always at the forefront in his mind.

Dick the Father and Grandfather:
Dick's first child, Lisa, was born in February of 1969, his second child, Troy, was born in June 1974. Raising kids while trying to start a business is a balancing act but he made it work. He would do his best to make school events even after long stints traveling. He worked hard to give his kids the things he did not have as a child while not spoiling them. As they grew older and into adolescents and adults, he was there for life's little hiccups to be their fixer. Need to move? He was there with a truck, trailer, and some muscle. Get in a fender bender or car troubles? Who needs triple AA when you’ve got DRD auto services. School science project? He had a plan. The only price for his help was that you helped, no free rides here, also telling him thank you went a long way. When grandkids came along Dick was there for fishing help, golf cart driving lessons and any other activity where he could spend time with them. He enjoyed traveling to see them in their school and activity events. It was not uncommon for Dick to ask for help on menial tasks, not because he needed the help, but he wanted to spend the time with them.

Dick the Friend:
I am not sure there were many people that Dick met that he did not befriend to some level. Walking up to people he did not know and talking to them did not bother him in the least bit. I am sure some were slightly nervous of him when he approached, his height and full horse show mustache were at times imposing. It did not take long for most to realize his only threat was talking your ear off. Dick was a storyteller, but the yarns he told were about the many adventures he had. When you spend the better part of your post-adolescent life traveling the country and the world you end up with a treasure trove of memories and experiences that need to be shared. These stories, his genuineness and helpfulness led others to enjoy his company.

Dick the Lover of Cars:
No write up about Dick would be complete without talking about his love for cars. In the 60's Dick owned a number of cars including motoring icons like the Mustang Boss 429, Shelby 289 Cobra and Shelby 427 Cobra. Though as cool as those cars were, his favorite of the time was his 1940 Pickup. It’s rumored this was the first vehicle his grandfather got a ticket in. During this time Dick participated in many rally and road race events, primarily driving Fords, and serving on the board of the local Mustang club. In the early 70's he raced Corvettes, including a white 1974 454 big block car. This car was not just used for racing but for family trips for ice cream with Roxi in the passenger seat and the kids tucked away in the storage area… hey, it was the 70's. His passion for cars took a back seat to normal life for about a decade as a young family, and time spent working/traveling for the business, took most of his time. When time and money allowed, Dick turned to Corvettes, owning a 1972 convertible in war bonnet yellow. This was soon followed by a 1932 Chevrolet Sedan, then a 1957 Bel-Air his son “won” at an auction. Mental note, don’t leave your bidding card with your 13-year-old son and your friend when you need to use the restroom. The following few decades were filled with cars coming and going, trips to shows across the country and hanging out with friends at their shops for “union” meetings.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents, Basil and Ruth Downing; his in-laws, Richard and Doris (Moeller) Collette; his sister-in-law, Starr Staker; brother-in-law, Mike Staker; and various other family and friends including close friend, Ron Myers.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, Roxi; his daughter, Lisa Downing Lanier and her husband Parker and their children, Jay Stahl, Mara Stahl and Andy (Denise); his son, Troy and his wife Kathryn and their children, Tobias and Ruby; and other family and friends with special mention to friends Dennis Slaymaker and Jim Conway, as well as Josh, Jessica and Cooper Hayden.

Special thanks to the care team at Abben Cancer Center in Spencer and the nurses and doctors at Lakes Regional Hospital, the care team at Aspire Care Center in Lake Park and St Croix Hospice. You helped him fight the good fight, and treated him with kindness and dignity. Members of the Dickinson and Clay County community, thank you for helping our parents over the last decade. It's always nice to know that even if you are hours away from your parents, there are people close by who are willing to lend a hand.

Services will be held at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines, IA 50266 with visitation on Friday, January 6, 2023 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. and the funeral service on Saturday, January 7 at 12:00 p.m. Burial will be at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Croix Hospice, 1015 S. Grand Ave., Spencer, IA 51301.

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