Richard "Rick" Ahn

Richard “Rick” Ahn, 74, of Marshalltown, Iowa, entered Heaven and saw Jesus, his Lord and Saviour, on December 23, 2025. He was surrounded by his loving family.

Rick was born to Richard Ahn and Libbie Jo Ann (Gray) Ahn on July 22, 1951 in Albia, Iowa. Rick graduated from Albia High School in 1969, attended Indian Hills Community College, and graduated from Northeast Missouri State College where he majored in special education and minored in physical education. During his time there, he proudly served as the president of the men’s dormitory council. He graduated with a teaching degree in special education in 1973.

Rick began his teaching career in Fremont, Iowa, followed by St. Joseph, Missouri. However, his first love was swimming. He worked as a lifeguard and swim instructor at the YMCA during the summer and also while teaching. Rick always had two jobs, sometimes three. He had the opportunity to lifeguard and teach swimming in Metairie, Louisiana; Oskaloosa, Iowa, and accepted the position to coach swimming at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa. Eventually he returned to teaching special education at BCLUW school district in Conrad, Iowa.

During this time, he was active in the Marshalltown YMCA where he met Bobby Shomo, who was then the pastor of Center Street Baptist Church. One afternoon Rick stopped at Center Street, and in Bobby’s office, he surrendered his life to God, accepting Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour. This changed Rick’s life: he claimed 2 Corinthians 5:17 as his life verse, and started attending Center Street Baptist Church regularly.

On August 10, 1996, he married Nancy Brant at Center Street Baptist Church in Marshalltown. With this union, Rick bravely and willingly gained a family of six children. He helped Nancy successfully navigate six high school graduations and parties, college years and graduations, six weddings, and the births of 21 grandchildren. Rick and Nancy had no grand travels, but they treasured and remembered their trips to visit each of the children and their families. Rick loved each grandchild.

Rick genuinely cared about everyone he met. With one conversation, he could create and establish lasting friendships. Rick was a compassionate listener and wanted to help when he saw a need. He was the first to anticipate a need for those he loved without considering the cost. It brought him joy to give. It was his greatest joy to please Nancy and take care of her.

Rick and Nancy created a loving home together in Marshalltown for almost 30 years. They anticipated and welcomed visits from all the children, extended family, and anyone who stopped by. Rick was a member of New Life Evangelical Free Church in Tama, Iowa, where he listened, learned, and benefitted from their son, Pastor Steven Brant. Rick never stopped growing in his faith. As a result, the important things in Rick’s life were God, his marriage, the children and grandchildren, friends, and his involvement in the YMCA. An educator and athlete at heart, Rick enjoyed watching youth, and especially his grandchildren, in all their activities.

Left to cherish his memory is Nancy, his wife of 29 years, their six children: Amanda (Jon) Coats of Round Rock, TX; Matthew (Molly) Brant of Eden Prairie, MN; Steven (Amy) Brant of Tama, IA; Elizabeth (Andy) Smith of Montello, WI; Deborah (Luke) Demarest of Moville, IA, and Paige (Patrick) Burzlaff of Bakersfield, CA. He will be lovingly remembered as “Papa Rick” by his 21 grandchildren: Samuel, Elijah, and Clara Roush; Nathan, Anna, Calvin, and Ruthie Brant; James, Ryan, Katelynne, and Libby Brant; Judah, Asher, Levi, and Benjamin Smith; Hope, Olivia, and Griffin Demarest; Nora, Penny, and Mabel Burzlaff. In addition, Rick is survived by his brother, Wiley Hugh Ahn of Marshalltown, family from Albia, Iowa, and many friends.

Rick was preceded in death by his parents, aunts and uncles, and two grandchildren: Collin Curtis Smith, and Grace Elizabeth Demarest.

Richard James Ahn was a good, kind man who will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

A visitation for Rick will be held on December 30, 2025, from 9:00 until 11:00 A.M. at Grace Church in Marshalltown. Funeral services will follow at 11:00 A.M. A private graveside service will be held December 31 at Worthington Cemetery near Earlham, Iowa. Memorials in Rick’s name may be directed to the family for a later designation. Mitchell Family Funeral Home has been entrusted to care for Rick and his family.

Lovingly written by Rick’s family.