Richard "Rick" Wells

Richard R. Wells, 65, of Oxford, passed from this life on Monday, January 5, 2026, at Emplify Gunderson Boscobel Hospital in Boscobel, Wisconsin. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, January 12, 2026, at 2:00 PM at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Cosgrove. His body will be cremated and private family burial will be held at a later date at the St. Vincent’s Cemetery in Riverside. The family will greet friends Sunday, January 11, 2026, from 2 – 5 PM at the Peterseim Funeral Home in Kalona. A general memorial fund has been established.

Richard Ray “Rick” Wells was born September 18, 1960, in Clinton, Iowa, the son of Richard and Carolyn (Gillespie) Wells. The family moved into the Hartwick community and lived on four different farms, later moving to town. He graduated from HLV in 1980 and attended Hawkeye Institute of Technology for auto mechanic training. Rick worked in various auto shops in Iowa City, where he met Mary Ruth while driving his Torino to a Billy Idol concert. They were married on October 14, 1989, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. They had four boys: Richard, Matthew, Jeremiah and Jonathan. Rick loved going to motorsports events with his boys and helping them with projects. He enjoyed time spent with Mary on his trike and taking many Caribbean cruises with their friends Terry, Diane, Gus and Karen. Rick was a volunteer firefighter with the Coralville Fire Department for eight years. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.

Survivors include four sons: Richard (Chelsea) of Parnell, Matthew (Nakia) of Oxford, Jeremiah of Marion, and Jonathan (Marisa) of Missouri, six grandchildren: Vada, Opal, Gideon, Henry, Adelyn and Savanna; father Dick (Marilyn) Wells of Belle Plaine; sister Cindy (Mark) Castle of Minnesota, brother Brian (Amy) Wells of Atkins; step siblings Sandy, Lori, Julie and Tracy; and special friend Lori Larson of Hillsboro, Wisconsin.

Preceding Rick in death was his wife Mary and his mother Carolyn.