NORTH SIOUX CITY -- Richard "Dick" J. Cherkas, 74, of North Sioux City died Friday, June 6, 2008, at a Sioux City hospital.
Services will be 1 p.m. Tuesday at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home, with the Rev. Don Barnett of Clearmont Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m., and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at the funeral home.
Richard Cherkas was born July 5, 1933, in Sioux City, to Anthony and Emma (Reback) Cherkas. He grew up and attended Sioux City schools and remained a lifelong Siouxland resident.
He married Jean Wanderscheid on Oct. 8, 1955, in Le Mars, Iowa. She passed away on May 6, 2007, in Sioux City. Dick was a truck driver, hauling for M & M Transfer. He was hauling for Stone Container before his retirement in the mid-1990s.
Dick enjoyed fishing, even taking the time to drive to Texas in the winters to fish, socializing at Mary's Hideaway and the Goode-to-Go bars, trapping, fishing, making others smile, spending time with the ones he loved and being a strong-willed individual.
Survivors include his daughter, Debbie S. Cherkas of Sioux City; a son, Steve Cherkas and his wife, Amy of Johnston, Iowa; grandchildren, Richard and Christina of Sioux City, Candace Cherkas of Sioux City, Jayde, Jacey, Jenna and Jacob Cherkas of Johnston, Iowa; a great-grandchild, Elijah Cherkas; and brothers, Ron and wife, Nancy of Ankeny, Iowa, and Bob of Sioux City.
He was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; a son, Scott Cherkas; and a sister, Betty Bornholtz.