Richard Colin Ewan

Dr. Richard Colin Ewan, 74, of Ames died Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 3, at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Ames. Burial will follow in Ames Municipal Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, at Stevens Memorial Chapel in Ames.

He was born on Sept. 10, 1934, in Cuba, Ill., to John Grafton and Zelma Marian (Shoop) Ewan. He received his bachelor's degree in agricultural science from the University of Illinois in 1956 and his master's degree in animal nutrition in 1957. He was married to his college sweetheart, Arlene Frances Elliott, on June 23, 1956, in Park Ridge, Ill. He served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force from 1957 to 1962 and then earned his P.h.D with a joint major in meat and animal science from the University of Wisconsin in 1966.

He began a long and notable career with the Animal Science Department at Iowa State University in 1966 where he taught graduate level students and performed extensive research until his retirement in 1999.

He was very active with the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 196, where he served for a number of years as the scoutmaster and with the mid-Iowa Council and district scouting where he served as District Commissioner. His hobbies included enjoying the company of his family, gardening, photography and winemaking. He was a loving grandfather to his nine grandchildren and an inspirational father to his four sons. Dick had a quiet kind nature that was full of warmth. He was a man of few words but when he spoke, people listened.

He is survived by four sons, William (Dawn) Ewan and their children, Colin, Bryce and Dana, of Bettendorf, Richard (Lisa) Ewan, of Houston, and their children, Shannon, of Washington, D.C., and Matt, of Austin, Texas, Daniel (Lisa) Ewan and their children, Jennifer, Tim, Megan, and Michael, of Lake Zurich, Illinois, and Chris (LuAnn) Ewan, of Ames; sister, Harriett (Jim) Cook, of Laramie, Wyo.; sister-in-laws, Doris Ewan, of Metamora, Ill., and Judy Bishop, of Rolling Meadows, Ill.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Arlene; brother, John; sister, Miriam Louise; and brother-in-law, Bernard Bishop.

Memorial contributions may be made in Dick's memory to the Boy Scouts of America or to Saint Cecilia Church.