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Richard (Dick) F. Boyer, 90, died July 18, 2023, at Addington Assisted Living Facility in Carroll. A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, July 21, at McDivitt Grove Cemetery, Urbandale.
Memorials can be made to the Boyer Family Memorial at the Urbandale United Church of Christ, 3530 – 70th Street, Urbandale, IA 50322. Please visit www.IlesCares.com for online condolences and additional information.
Richard was born Feb. 1, 1933, to Reverend Howard and Mrs. Sarah Boyer in York, Pennsylvania. In 1939, the family moved to Altoona, Pennsylvania. In 1947, the family moved to Rockford, Illinois, where he graduated from West Rockford High School in 1950.
Dick attended Grinnell College in Grinnell, where he majored in music and graduated in 1954. Following college, he enlisted in the Air Force and was stationed one year at Denver, Colorado, where he played in the Air Force Academy Band. He was then transferred to Parks A.F.B. in Hayward, California, where he served one year as a training officer.
After being discharged from the Air Force, Dick began his graduate program in school administration at the University of Iowa while teaching band at Deep River Consolidated Schools two mornings a week.
In 1957, he began his career teaching instrumental music in the Urbandale Community School District, in Urbandale. He received his MA from Drake in 1965 and his educational specialist in 1968. He then became assistant superintendent in Urbandale.
In 1970 the family moved to Creston where he was superintendent of schools. His last superintendent position was in Algona. After a 25-year career in the school system, in 1988, he became assistant bureau chief in the administration section of the Department of Education, State of Iowa. He retired in 1996.
On Nov. 23, 1956, he married the love of his life, Nancy K. Johannsen, a union lasting over 63 years and which produced three wonderful children: Patricia (Mike) Ruhnke, William (Kara) Boyer and Mary (Mark) Trapp. The three children added three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren to the growing family.
Dick and Nancy enjoyed traveling and spent many vacations in Branson, Missouri. With the children they traveled to both coasts with a camper. His favorite vacation spot was Ocean City, New Jersey, where he, his parents and sister spent 10 days every summer for many years.