Richard Lee Goode

Richard Lee Goode, quietly and peacefully passed away to his Eternal Rest and into the presence of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, at his home in Indianola on February 22, 2025 at the age of 85. He had been tenderly nursed and ministered to by his loving wife, daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter.
Richard was born on January 19, 1940, to Guy and Helen (Trotter) Goode in Knoxville, Iowa in the middle of a snowstorm. He grew up in and around Warren County, Iowa. His parents rented farms and moved frequently. He was a natural when it came to cars and tractors. Richard graduated from Milo High School in 1958 and in 1959 started working for Hull Implement, in Indianola Iowa, working on International Harvester, and most importantly Farmall. He was there for about 22 years. In the early 1980's, he left there and had a string of different jobs until he started the USPS Bulk Mail Center in Urbandale in late 1987 retiring in the later part of 2009.
He met the love of his life in 1961, Mary Ellen Brown. They were married on November 13, 1963. They settled in Indianola and bought their first house from Richard's uncle, Virgil Akers. A few years later they decided to build a home East of town.
Richard had many cars, fine-tuning them. He always took care of and took immense pride in everything he owned. One was a 1955 Chevy, and if the stories are true, he had the fastest '55 Chevy in Indianola. His cousin, Larry Champlin would ride along with him, and he would not be afraid to tell you to this day, there was at least one time he thought they were going to die.
Early in 1974, they received a call that a baby was needing a home. So, off they went to pick him up, and much to their surprise, it was a little girl. She stole their hearts immediately (except for when she was colicky). Richard loved his family dearly and always provided for them well.
Richard loved his Savior, family, and church. He was immersed in the water of baptism on the same day as his daughter in June of 1985. He enjoyed the old hymns, Polka music, and the original, good old Country Music. He enjoyed working on cars, trucks, and tractors and many times after he got off work, whether it was for a neighbor, friend, or family member, he would show up and work on their vehicle. He loved gardening and always had a large one. Sweet corn, popcorn, green beans, tomatoes, zucchini, potatoes, radishes ~ he kept Mary Ellen busy during canning and freezing season! They also had two apple trees for many years. He was always busy, fixing things, mowing, and taking care of the yard and trees.
Richard considered himself well blessed in life by his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He struggled to hold on, but his body was just overwhelmed by the effects of Alzheimer's, and now he has gone to his Heavenly Home, his spirit living on with the Lord.
In the early years Richard and Mary Ellen Square danced. They would have close friends over to play cards, sometimes into the wee hours of the morning so much that one of their friends would hide their car, because their relative was Richard and Mary Ellen's Sunday Paper Man. They loved riding Richad's motorcycle. (One time when a group of them were out one night, they were riding out on that field at Simpson, of West Iowa. Richard was the only one to have a Harley, he got high centered and stuck when he tried to jump the hill. They all had a good laugh.
He enjoyed talking with the members at church, especially during the basket dinners, and he loved a good buffet! He loved flowers, and when they were blooming outside during the warm months, Mary Ellen would arrange them in a vase and place them where he could easily see them.
They loved camping and started out in the beginning with a pick-up camper and their last camper was a 5th wheel. They camped at Red Rock in Knoxville, to Colorado to Branson. Two of their favorite spots were Trenton, Missouri during Trenton Days and of course, The Old Thresher's Reunion at Mt. Pleasant. They went almost every year after they were married right up until about 2013. Even though for the last few years they were not camping at Mt Pleasant, they were still going.
Richard was a longtime member of the Vandalia church of Christ, Tune-Up Society of Iowa, the APWU 7027, and NARFE.
Richard passed peacefully after a prolonged battle with Alzheimer's on February 22, 2025. He was preceded in death by his parents, Guy and Helen Goode, Father-in-law, Delbert Brown, Sr and mother-in-law, Lois Brown, brothers-in-law, Jason Brown, Jay Brown, and Delbert Lee Brown, and sister-in-law, Linda VanWyngarden.
His memory and legacy will forever be cherished by survivors Mary Ellen, his loving wife of 61 years; daughter, Mariha (Jason) Henle; granddaughter, Cheyenne Goode; sister, Rosalee (Les) Greene; step-grandchildren, Rachael (Paul) Wilson, Jessica, Abbigail and Brett Henle; sisters-in-law, Carloyn Nearmyer and Jo Heigele; brothers-in-law, John (Gerry) Brown, Joe (Karen) Brown, and Jody (Michelle) Brown; along with a host of other family members including nieces, nephews, cousins, as well as, numerous friends.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 pm on Tuesday, February 25, 2025. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 am on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at Overton's Funeral Home in Indianola. In lieu of flowers, memorials in memory of Richard may be given to the family.