Richard George Kerr, 90, of Indianola, Iowa, died on November 28, 2025, at The Village in Indianola.

Richard "Dick" was born on November 17, 1935, in Waukon, Iowa. His early years were marked by loss; his mother died when he was just six, and his father when he was fifteen. Despite these hardships, Dick built a life defined by service and deep devotion to family and community.

Dick graduated from Decorah High School in 1954 and attended Luther College for one year. Having too much fun with his friends close to home, he decided it would be best to transfer further away to Iowa State University, where he became a life-long, die-hard Cyclone fan. At ISU, he became involved with student government and graduated with a degree in Agronomy in 1958. He then enlisted in the United States Army, serving from 1959 to 1961, including time stationed in Korea.

In 1962, Dick began work as a 4-H Assistant with ISU Extension in Sigourney, Iowa, where he met his future wife of 63 years, Annette (Dorr). As the story goes, he invited her to have coffee with him regularly but hadn't yet asked her for a date. One night, Annette mentioned that she was going to a movie, and a coworker asked with whom she was going. She answered, "I'm going alone, if I have to," while looking at Dick. He got the hint and asked her out. They were married on May 6, 1962, and soon after made their home in Indianola.

That same year, Dick began what would become a long and respected career at Brenton Bank, serving as cashier and eventually, loan officer and vice-president. He retired in 1994. Known for his integrity and personal connection to those he served, Dick was a trusted figure in the community.

Dick poured his heart into service. A member of First United Methodist Church since 1962, he served in many roles over the decades. He gave generously of his time to the community as a member of the Indianola School Board, the Indianola Library Board, the Indianola Men's Garden Club, and the Indianola Lions Club, where he served terms as president of each organization. After retirement, he continued his dedication to helping others through volunteer work with Helping Hand, driving for Meals on Wheels, and continuing to help count money at church.

A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, Dick delighted in supporting his children and grandchildren in their many musical and athletic activities. One of his and Annette's greatest joys was taking each grandchild on a special overseas trip when they reached the age of 12 or 13, creating memories that will endure for generations. He was deeply proud of his family and loved nothing more than bragging about them whenever he could.

Dick traveled widely with his wife, and they also welcomed the world into their home, hosting foreign exchange students from France (Gaëlle Hagen), Namibia (Jacqueline Pilzer), Hungary (Tamás Forgács), and Brazil (Nanda Machado).

Dick loved playing golf, attending the opera annually with his wife, doing Sudoku, and playing table tennis (don't call it ping pong around Dick!). He was an absolute whiz at card games and enjoyed playing Wizard, cribbage, pinochle, or bridge with family and friends. He had a competitive streak and won so frequently that his family was inspired to develop "house rules" with the goal to set Dad - no matter the consequences to your own game. One of his most unforgettable qualities was his loud, obnoxious, and contagious laugh, which, fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it), has been inherited by each of his kids and many of his grandkids.

Dick was preceded in death by his mother Clara (Hansen) Kerr, his father George Kerr, and his brother Robert Kerr. He is survived by his wife, Annette (Dorr) Kerr of Indianola, Iowa; his children, Scott (Andrea) Kerr of Mahwah, New Jersey, Marcie (Brad) Adams of Farmington, Minnesota, and Shari (Mike) Miller of Polk City, Iowa; his seven grandchildren, Alexa Kerr, Max Kerr, Wade Adams, MacKenzie Adams, Duncan Adams, Nick Miller, and Kellen Miller; his sister, Ruth (Kerr) Woldum of Decorah, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews. He leaves behind a legacy of kindness, service, and unwavering love—a life fully lived.

Visitation will be held 4 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, December 3 at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola. The memorial service will be held 11 a.m., Thursday, December 4 at the First United Methodist Church in Indianola.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Des Moines Metro Opera or the Helping Hand (both in Indianola).