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Ronald “Rick” Rice, 79, of Creston, died Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023, at his home. Celebration of Life Memorial Services will be 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 14 at Powers Funeral Home in Creston. Pastor Mary O’Riley will officiate the service. Services will be livestreamed. Burial will be at a later date. Open memorial visitation with the family to receive friends will be from 10:30–11:30 a.m. before service time Saturday, Jan. 14 at Powers Funeral Home in Creston.
In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to Union County Conservation. Online condolences can be given at www.powersfh.com.
Ronald Richard Rice, Jr., son of Ronald Richard Rice, Sr. and Gladys Christine Ladegaard, was born Nov. 26, 1943, in Perry. Rick attended Perry High School and went on to attend University of Northern Iowa earning his bachelor’s degree. Rick then earned his master’s degree in social work at the University of Iowa.
Rick began his career in Independence as a recreational therapist. He then moved to Little Falls, Minnesota, and worked as a clinical social worker. Later Rick moved to Des Moines, where he worked at a child guidance center in the outreach department as a counselor. He settled in Creston in 1979, where he worked at Crossroads as the executive director until retirement in 2011.
On Jan. 3, 1986, Rick was united in marriage to Annette Marie Baker in Creston. Rick was a member of the Union County Conservation Board for 40 years and a member of the Sierra Club.
Rick and Annette traveled and photographed extensively. In addition to visiting all the contiguous states including 13 trips to Alaska, their travels included the Arctic Circle, Iceland, the Scandinavian countries, Holland and Belgium, Mongolia, Australia, three African countries, Canada, most of the countries in Central America, Ecuador, the Galapagos, Argentina and Chile and two trips to Antarctica.
Rick is survived by his wife, Annette (Baker) Rice of Creston; his children: Melinda Rice of Phoenix, Arizona, Nathanial Rice and Kara (Andy) Haberkamp of Carlisle; his sisters, Mariann (Frank) Baker of St. Louis, Missouri, and Suzann (Neil) Ennis of Buena Vista, Colorado.; two grandchildren: Cecilia and George Haberkamp; brother-in-law John (Retta) Baker of Creston; two sisters-in-law: Alicia (Reda) Hamze of Omaha, Nebraska; Lynn Baker of Creston; several special nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ronald and Gladys Rice, father-in-law Joseph (Catharine) Baker; brothers-in-law Paul Baker and James Laue and sister-in-law Joan Baker.