Richard "Lumpy" Lundstrom

Richard “Lumpy” Lundstrom, 80, peacefully passed away surrounded by his three children and wife after a yearlong courageous battle with cancer.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 28, 2025, at the Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home, Perry Chapel, with a prayer service beginning at 7:00 p.m., led by Father Nick Smith. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, December 29, 2025, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Perry. Burial with Military Honors will follow at Violet Hill Cemetery in Perry. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Carroll Summer Fun Camp or St. Patrick’s Catholic School in Perry. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.caldwellparrish.com.

He was born in Boone, Iowa January 15th, 1945, the son of Clarence and Helen (Carlson) Lundstrom. He worked alongside his father laying brick and concrete work in addition to earning Eagle Scout before graduating from Boone High School in 1963. After graduation, Lumpy served in the Iowa National Guard for six years while working for Iowa Electric (Alliant Energy) as a lineman. Lumpy was a regular at ‘The Spot’ establishment and enjoyed shuffleboard and time with friends.

On November 25th, 1972, he married Patricia (Pat) Lundstrom and chose to make Perry their home. Lumpy retired from Alliant after 44 years and continued several part-time jobs in the community including delivering flowers, furniture, and working as an usher for funeral services.

He had served as a member of the St Pat’s School board, Knights of Columbus, Perry Jaycees, and Little League as a coach and president. He excelled in many skills, from laying bricks and working with concrete to woodworking. His hobbies led to so much time volunteering from building decks, various construction projects including a marquee sign in front of St. Pat’s School, exercise trail in Pattee Park, and 12 habitat houses in Perry. The family’s favorite project was building grandchildren their own custom baby cribs. His last small projects include repairing the nativity scene at the church the day before his cancer diagnosis a year ago and building lighted Christmas trees this fall for the kids. He was always the first person you called when you had a project, and he would particularly plan every step. If you worked alongside him, you learned quickly that you weren’t doing it right, knowing that he cared to do only the best. He loved the family trips to Vegas, Colorado, and Newport but treasured his times fishing at the cabin with the extended family the most. He loved riding his bike, playing cards with so many friends, fishing, cheering for and sometimes yelling at the Hawkeyes, and watching Hallmark movies and The Price Is Right. Lumpy attended everything he could and was always a proud and enthusiastic fan at all his kids and grandchildren's activities. He was soft-hearted and often would cry at every milestone, accomplishment, and anything involving his kids and grandkids. He never knew a stranger and made friends everywhere he went.

He is preceded in death by his sister, Shirley Ross and survived by sister Doris and brother-in-law Harold ‘Junior’ Stotts of Boone. He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years Pat, sons Andy (Jenn) of Littleton, Colorado, and Joel (Kristen) of Carroll, and favorite daughter Lisa (Ryan) Murphy of Urbandale. Lumpy cherished his seven grandchildren and knew he would miss them the most: Ava, Lila, Tyson, Charlie, Braydon, Kellan, and Sean.

Everyday has been a new day in our lives. For a year Lumpy fought every day to keep living. Trips for surgeries to Iowa City, trips to Des Moines to see doctors, and 18 trips to Ankeny for chemo treatments; never once did he ask me why.

While there were many bad days, the good days outnumbered them. Family, friends, neighbors, people just passing by seemed to show up just when we needed them.

So many people stopped to visit, people brought food, sent cards, called to check in, provided laughs, and always ended every visit with a hug.

Our kids, their spouses, and our grandchildren have been here for us. We love them so much. We want to thank all of you so much for getting us through this journey.

Our love to you all!

Pat