Richard "Dick" Taylor Gates

Richard “Dick” Gates, 95, passed away peacefully at home January 23, 2025. A celebration of his life will be held on Thursday, January 30, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Lutheran Church of Hope, 925 Jordan Creek Parkway in West Des Moines, IA with visitation one hour prior and a luncheon following. The service will be livestreamed from this link: click here

Dick was born July 5, 1929 in Des Moines, IA to Ruby (Gifford) and Frederick Gates. He graduated from Roosevelt High School then attended Drake University. Prior to attending Drake, Dick spent the summer working in Idaho in a lookout tower scouting for forest fires – a job he was most fond of. He later worked with Northwestern Bell as a Junior Lineman and then joined the U.S. Army in 1951, serving for nearly 2 years. Prior to his honorable discharge, Dick earned a Korean service medal, 3 bronze service stars, and the United Nations service medal. He then returned to Northwestern Bell until his retirement in 1983 having moved up the ranks to Marketing Manager. Dick was a man who embraced life fully, enjoying time with family and friends golfing, playing tennis, handball, racquetball, games of many types, sailing and boating, and traveling.

Dick married Norma Jean Mixdorf on December 28, 1957. The couple started their family and made four moves with Northwestern Bell before settling in West Des Moines in 1970. Dick was a long-time member of St. Mark Lutheran Church and Lutheran Church of Hope. He worked diligently as a volunteer at the churches, at Freedom for Youth, and many other charities. Dick was quoted as saying, “the most important events in my life have been, the love and influence of my parents and brother; marrying Jean; the birth of our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; along with my faith and involvement in the Church and community. The most important thing is love.”

Dick will be remembered as a man who loved others well. His kind and compassionate presence will be greatly missed by his loving wife of 67 years, Jean Gates; his daughters and their husbands: Brenda (Al) Biere of Cedar Falls, Claudia (Bob) Wilson of Woodbury, MN, and Nancy (Lee Duhnam) Morgan of West Des Moines; his 6 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren; his brother, Jack (Fan) Gates of Seattle, WA and their two children (Dan and Laura); as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents.

He lived by: Faith, Hope and Love—but the greatest of these is Love”.


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