Richard “Dick” O’Tool, age 81, of Carroll, IA, passed away on Saturday, April 9, 2022 at Unity Point Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be Celebrated at 10:30 A.M. on Thursday, April 14, 2022 at St. John Paul II Parish – St. Lawrence Church in Carroll with Fr. Kevin Richter as Celebrant assisted by Deacon Joseph O’Tool. Eucharistic Minister will be Kris Collins. Lectors for the Mass will be Faith Laboy and April Tigges. Music for the Mass will be by Kathy Halbur with Kathleen Macke as Cantor. Gift bearers will be Dick’s grandchildren. Casket bearers will be Pat O’Tool, Kevin O’Tool, Donn Holmes, Shaun O’Tool, Jeff O’Tool, Tony O’Tool, and Ken Podewiles. The Antonian School of Nursing will form an honor guard. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll.
Visitation will be held at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll after 5 P.M. on Wednesday where there will be a Christian Wake Service held at 7 P.M. The casket will be moved to St. Lawrence Church at 9:30 A.M. on Thursday where visitation will resume until 10:15 A.M.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com
Dick was born to Wilmer O’Tool and Rosina (Reising) O’Tool on July 6, 1940 in Carroll County. He was raised on a farm East of Breda until the family moved to Carroll in 1954. He attended St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School and graduated from Kuemper High School in 1958.
Richard O’Tool was 19 when he stepped into the role of family patriarch. He, his mother and several of the eldest children held the seventeen member O’Tool family together in a four bedroom house at 419 Lincoln St. Carroll, Iowa after the death of his father.
He attended Antonian School of Nursing in Carroll where he met fellow nurse Sara Birkett. They married on May 16,1964. Dick, as he was known to practically everyone, supported his family as a heavy equipment operator with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local #234 and later as a long-haul truck driver for Crouse Cartage Co. from Carroll, Iowa.
That second career provided Dick an excuse to enjoy his passion for family and friends. Anyone who had happened to give Dick a phone number or address could expect him to call and say that he was in the neighborhood and had time for a visit. And he was a welcome visitor since he was good company with a gift for conversation, cards and chess. Most important was his ability to share enthusiasm for any interest of his host. His grandchildren learned this as he became a fan of baseball, Rubik’s Cube, robots and all things involving his grandchildren. When his grandchildren visited, he shared with them his passion for animals.
During retirement he enjoyed family as often as possible, driving, flying or catching a lift to visit anyone in the Continental United States or any continent. He enjoyed animals, playing cards, genealogy, beer and riding a bike to the Angry Beaver in Maple River to drink beer, discuss genealogy, play cards and admire the animals hanging on the wall.
Dick collected stamps, and coins… and key fobs, toy construction machinery, family pictures, clocks, shot glasses, animals, memorial plates, regular plates, cups, forks, spoons… Dick was a “collector”. At one time he had his basement, garage and a dozen sheds spread across three counties filled with “collectibles”. He filled a barn and turned it into a second-hand store. Dickie Doo’s Treasure Trove just got fuller since he spent more time going to auctions buying junk than he did selling.
Dick, Dickie Doo, (Shag to his childhood friends) was a caring intelligent and sensitive man who had a rewarding life. He had his share of troubles, but always maintained a good sense of humor.
He was preceded in death by Sara, parents Wilmer and Rosina O’Tool, siblings Arlen, Daryl, Stanley and Clara, and a granddaughter Dana O’Tool.
He is survived by his children Mike (Lori) of Boise ID; Andy of Vista CA; Susan (Robert) Schepanski of North Liberty IA; Cindy (Erik) Riesselman of Dallas Center IA; bonus child and sister-in-law Kay (John) Peters of Phoenix AZ; 14 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren; siblings Marvagene Louis of Colorado Springs CO; Joseph (Jolene) O’Tool of Alpha IL, Jeanette (Francis) Bolster of Auburn IA; Mary (Thomas) Scott of Ames IA; Ralph (Janie) O’Tool, Malvern IA; Elizabeth O’Tool (Warren Mosler) of St. Croix VI; Barbara (Marvin) Karstens; Frank (Maggie) O’Tool; Jane Ann (Larry) Podewils of Carnarvon IA; Jim O’Tool of Carroll IA and Daniel (Merlyn) O’Tool of Houston TX.
