Richard "Dick" Kates, the son of Marion Joseph and Helen Doris (Putnam) Kates, was born September 6, 1935, in Council Bluffs, IA.  He died January 13, 2022, in Oakland, IA, at the age of 86 years, 4 months, and 4 days.

Dick graduated from Carson High School in 1952.  He was 16 years old and the youngest in his class when he graduated.  He then began working for Kinney Construction until September of 1956, when he left to join the United States Marine Corp.  While in the Marines, Dick was stationed at Camp Pendleton in California in the 1 ^st ENG. BATTALION.  He made PFC the first year and Meritorious CLP, then one month later made SGT.  In September of 1958, he left the Marines and returned to work for Kinney Construction.  On September 19, 1959, he was united in marriage to Jo Ann Burnam in Ralston, NE.  Four Children were born to this union:  Linda, Lisa, Larry, and Lonnie.  Dick worked for Cain Construction, S.R. Flott Construction, K.C. Knudson Construction,  Hackett Construction, and then Lund Ross Constructors of Omaha, before his retirement.

Dick loved carpentry and his knowledge was passed on to his sons and many other people.  Dick had volunteered his time and talent on many building projects in Oakland, including:  The Oakland Historical Society, building signs for the Boys Scouts and West Nishna 4-H'ers, and countless projects for the City of Oakland.  Dick had served on the Oakland Fire Department for 25 years, where he had been Captain, Assistant Fire Chief, and Fire Inspector, and had been on the school board two separate times.  He was an avid blood donor and had even donated bone marrow to a man with Leukemia.  Dick was proud of all of his family, including his children's and grandchildren's spouses.

Dick is preceded in death by his parents, and his brother Kenneth.

He is survived by his wife Jo Ann Kates of Oakland, IA; his children: Linda Smith of Omaha, NE, Lisa Rollins and husband Monty of Oakland, IA, Larry Kates of Riverside, CA, and Lonnie Kates and wife Julie of Carson, IA; his grandchildren: Carey (Stacy) Danker, Christi Gibler, Lindsey (Rhett) Henderson, Leigh (Herb) Bell, Lauren (Cody) Schueman, Mitchell (Kelsie) Rollins, Kyra (Miles) Kates, Ean Kates, Ryleigh Kates, Karlee Kates, Seth (Melanie) Kates, Kade (Melody) Kates, and Gabrielle (Garret) McCowen; 20 great grandchildren; and his nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, January 21, 2022, at 10:30 AM, at the Oakland United Methodist Church in Oakland.  Visitation with the family will be on Thursday, January 20, 2022, from 5:30 until 7:30 PM at the Oakland United Methodist Church.  Interment will be in the Carson Cemetery at Carson.  A memorial fund has been established.  Rieken Vieth Funeral Home in Oakland is assisting the family.