KLEMME BOOK

Clarence Richard Gilpin

1934 - 2024


Clarence "Dick" Gilpin July 21, 2024 Clarence "Dick" Gilpin, age 90, of Belmond, IA, died, Sunday, July 21, 2024, with his wife and family at his side at the Iowa Specialty Hospital-Belmond. Public funeral services will be Friday, July 26, 2024, 10:30 AM, at the Belmond United Methodist Church. The Reverend Leila Blackburn will be officiating. Burial will be in the Belmond Cemetery. Public visitation will be Thursday from 5-7 PM at the Belmond United Methodist Church and will continue at the church one hour prior to the funeral services on Friday. Andrews Funeral Homes, Belmond, IA is handling funeral arrangements. The funeral service will be live streamed on the Andrews Funeral Homes Facebook page, just "LIKE" the page to view. Memorial suggestion included the Belmond United Methodist Church, Iowa Specialty Hospital-Belmond, to the family, or the donor's choice. Clarence Richard Gilpin, the son of Leon John and Verbelle (Riley) Gilpin, was born May 7, 1934 in Fort Dodge, IA. He was raised on his family farm in rural Klemme, IA, where he attended both the Ell and Avery Township Schools through the 7th grade in Hancock County. Dick then attended Klemme High School graduating in the Class of 1952. During his childhood years, he learned the value of hard work and attention to details. His lifelong love and passion for farming commenced in these early years as he helped with the chores and other farming tasks, along with learning to operate machinery and do some cultivating at the age of 8 years old. Following graduation, he worked for the local veterinary Dr. Baker until 1960 when he started farming on his own. He was united in marriage to Ruth Marie Pringnitz on April 6, 1958, in the Liberty Township Methodist Church. This union was blessed with two beautiful daughters, Wanda and Sue. In December of 1960, Dick and Ruth began farming west of Klemme, they then moved to a farm east of Klemme in 1961, where they lived and farmed for 51 years. In 2009, they moved into the town of Belmond, but continued to farm until 2022 when he was 88 years old, although Dick never truly retired from farming and had been in the tractors this spring. Other than his family and his dog "Piper", farming was very much the love of his life. He loved to work the earth, plant the seeds and reap the harvest. His stewardship of the land and meticulously maintained weed free fields were of utmost importance to him. Dick also had raised and nurtured livestock for many years. He was baptized in the Klemme United Methodist Church and he and Ruth were members there and raised their daughter for most of their lives in Klemme. Upon moving to Belmond, the two eventually joined the Belmond United Methodist Church. Throughout the years Dick and Ruth enjoyed raising their daughters and supporting them in all their endeavors. They looked forward to an occasional family vacation though Dick was not one to leave the farm for very lengthy periods of time, the family had been to Minnesota, Wisconsin, Branson, and Nashville over the years. He and Ruth along with close friends Bob and Carol Hinman had been on camping and fishing trips to Canada as well as snowmobiling adventures together and with their families. Dick loved the outdoors and all of its wonders. He looked forward to the treks to go Prairie Dog hunting in South Dakota, The adventures of black bear hunting with Bob and Jeff Hinman, along with the challenging pursuit of many years hunting the white tail deer. He and Ruth had also done some square dancing and played in various 500 card groups for many years. After moving to Belmond, Dick became a regular daily fixture with his many buddies when they would get together and the Bloemke Pharmacy soda fountain counter for coffee and of course conversation. He was the last remaining member of the coffee group who had relished the friendships and bonds that had arose over the years. Dick and Ruth loved to attend the many activities and sporting events of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren, rarely ever missing an opportunity to be in the stands watching them and cheering for them. Dick truly lived for his wife Ruth and his family and more likely than not that is the reason he fought the good fight against cancer as he wanted to be able to spend more moments in each of their lives. He very much fought the good fight! He will be remembered by his family and friends as a true gentleman, full of love for his fellow man. Fun loving, supportive and protective were a few words they used to describe him. A man with a warm and friendly demeanor, a welcoming smile and a great sense of humor and wit. His memory will burn brightly in the hearts and minds of his wife and life partner of more than 66 years, Ruth Gilpin, Belmond, IA; daughters Wanda and Joe Torkelson Klemme, IA and Sue and Neal Haugland, Klemme, IA; granddaughter Amy and husband Robert Swenson and their children Creighton, Ryerson, and Huxtyn Swenson; and grandson Caleb Torkelson, Several special nieces and nephews, along with other extended family and friends. Dick was preceded in death by his parents, baby sister Cora Bella Gilpin, brother Paul Gilpin, sister Judith Fenske, brother-in-law Willard Fenske, and mother-in-law Ruth (Abele) Pringnitz and father-in-law Bernard Francis Pringnitz. Funeral services are being handled by Andrews Funeral Homes, Belmond, IA.