Richard Lomen

Richard Lomen, 78, of Waukon, IA, died on Friday, February 22, 2008 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Monday, February 25th at 2:00 pm at St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon, with Rev. Lynn G. Groe officiating. Burial with military graveside rites will be in Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 2:00 to 6:00 pm Sunday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon.

Richard Lomen was born on April 29, 1929 on the Winneshiek County Iowa farm of his parents, Erlin and Ellen (Jensen) Lomen. His mother died when he was 13 and his father married Lorraine Guernsey. Richard was baptized at Springfield Lutheran Church and confirmed at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church. He attended rural elementary schools and graduated from Decorah High School. He attended Iowa State University where he was a member of both the dairy cattle and livestock judging teams, was an exchange student in Europe, and was active in numerous campus organizations. Following graduation from ISU in 1953 and graduate study at Oklahoma State University, he was commissioned a Lieutenant in the United States Air Force where he served as an intelligence officer with the Air Defense Command.

Following the service Richard returned to Winneshiek County where on December 1, 1956 he married Doris J. Ellingson at the Ridgeway Lutheran Church. He farmed with his father until 1957 when he joined the Brenton Banks Company in Dallas Center and began a successful career in the agriculture credit field. He advanced to Executive Vice President and Director of the Wright County Bank in Clarion and in 1975 was named President of the Waukon State Bank in Waukon, where he remained active until his retirement in 1994. During his banking career, Richard also maintained his interest in the dairy industry. Over the years he purchased several area farms where he developed an outstanding herd of registered Holstein cattle. His "Ernlo Farms" was a regular exhibitor and award winner at local, state and national shows.

Richard was also involved in many organizations both in the communities where he lived and on a wider scope. He served as a director and president of the Iowa Holstein Association and 2 three year terms as a board member of the National Holstein Association, as well as being chairman of their Finance Committee. He has been a 4-H leader, served on the Iowa 4-H Foundation Board and the State Banking 4-H Committee. He also was a loyal supporter of Iowa State University, the Dairy Science program and the College of Agriculture, appearing on programs at many dairy meetings and generously supporting scholarship programs. Locally, he was president of the Dallas County Community Club and the Dallas County Red Cross and served as town treasurer. In Waukon he was a Sunday School teacher, president and member of the board of trustees at St. John's Lutheran Church, served as president of the Waukon Swimming Pool Corporation and Waukon Industries Board and was treasurer of the Allamakee County Compensation Board. He was also a member of Lion's Club and Kiwanis International. When he found time he enjoyed taking fishing trips with friends and traveling.

Survivors include his wife Doris of Waukon; 3 children, Jim (Becky) of Waukon, Mark of Marshfield, WI and Natalie (Dale) Hentrich of Streamwood, IL; 6 grandchildren, Denise Herman, Dawn Schulte, Hollee McCormick, and Hannah, Jill and Heidi Hentrich; 4 great-grandchildren, Reese McCormick and Bailey, Broden and Ariaya Herman; his step-mother, Lorraine Lomen of Decorah; a brother, David (Connie) Lomen of Tucson, AZ; a half-brother, Dale (Marilyn) Lomen of Ft. Myers, FL; 2 half-sisters, Nancy Lomen of Decorah and Dorothy (Steven) Van Helten of Waverly, IA; and a sister-in-law, Barb Lomen of Huntley, IL. He is preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Donald.

Honorary casketbearers are Denise Herman, Dawn Schulte, Hollee McCormick, James R. Borcheding, Doug Lomen and Ellen Parks. Casketbearers are Stan Fuchs, Scott Courtney, Mark Knudtson, Mike McCormick, Dale Hentrich and Mark Herman.