DuWayne Rich

DuWayne Allen Rich Jr., 70, of Sioux City passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 27, 2016, at his home after a 16-year battle with cancer.
Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home, 1801 Morningside Ave., Sioux City, Iowa 51106. Private family graveside services will be in Graceland Park Cemetery, Sioux City. Visitation with the family present will be 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1101 S. Cornelia, Sioux City. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.christysmith.com .
DuWayne "Dewey" was born Jan. 1, 1946, in Sioux City. He was the son of DuWayne and Margaret (Tolmie) Rich. Dewey began his passion for auto mechanics early in his life, spending hours at his father's gas station, Rich Brothers Conoco on South Lakeport Road. He attended Sioux City Schools, graduating from East High School in 1964, and went on to attend Universal Trade School in Omaha. Dewey returned to Sioux City after graduation and went to work for Dallas Hall Ford, where he met and made many lifelong friends.
On April 27, 1968, he married Laurie Simmons and started working for Terra Chemical the same week. Together DuWayne and Laurie celebrated 48 years to the date and had two daughters.
Dewey was devoted to his family and Grace Lutheran Church, where he was a member and served as a trustee and an elder. He removed snow and cut grass for over 30 years voluntarily.
He also loved working for Terra Chemical, where he was the mobile equipment technician, working on everything from bicycles to a railroad switch engine. Even after the explosion of 1994, his desire was to return and help with the rebuilding of the plant, which he was able to do, and he continued to work for another five years.
Dewey never met a person he couldn't talk to and will be missed by many good friends. He will always be remembered for loving God, his family, his church, hard work and having a spirit of servanthood.
Survivors include his wife, Laurie Rich; two daughters, Robyn Rich and Jody and Scott Wilcox; two grandsons, Noah Rubida and Caleb Wilcox; a granddaughter, Alexis Wilcos; a brother, Jerry and Sue Rich; dear friend, Jeff and Sundee Anderson; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, DuWayne and Margaret Rich; and a granddaughter, Gracie Ann Wilcox.