Richard Alva "Dick" Kriz

FUNERAL HOME

Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery Funeral Home

4200 First Avenue NE

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Richard Kriz Obituary

Richard "Dick" Alva Kriz, 89, of Cedar Rapids, passed away peacefully on Sept. 5, 2023, at the home he and his father proudly built in 1961. He lived an interesting life and his stories reflected that. He had a curious mind right up until the end and could supply the details we had forgotten! He loved people, golfing, swimming, playing games and, of course, music. His life-long passion for music started with piano lessons as a child. While attending Franklin high school, he joined the choir, sang in a barbershop quartet and bought his first bass. After graduating in 1952, he began playing professionally with local groups. Dick fell in love at first sight with Darlene "Pinkie" Discher in 1956 and they married on Sept. 15, of that year. Six weeks later, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. Fortunately, he was recruited into Special Services, where he played throughout Germany and was introduced to jazz on an international level. Upon returning home in 1958, he worked as a sheet metal worker (Local 263) and later as a boilermaker (Local 83). He continued to play in symphonies and with a variety of bands throughout the Midwest and has been an active member of the Musicians Protective Union (Local 137) since 1952. Dick appreciated being able to age at home and was deeply grateful for the support he received from his family, friends, neighbors and care team. Survivors include his loving wife of 67 years, Darlene "Pinkie" Kriz of Cedar Rapids; children, Carrie Kriz of Cedar Rapids, Jennifer Slauson (Douglas) of Swisher and Amy Kriz Ackman (Mark) of Cedar Rapids; sister, Sandy Armstrong (Gene) of Springville; brother, Thomas Kriz (Fran) of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, Anne Schons (Anthony) of Iowa City, Aaron Ackman (Erin) of Johnston, Sierra Ackman (Alli) of Lakewood, Colo., and Kathryn O'Brien (Quinn) of Mount Vernon; and great-grandchildren, Hazel Schons, Etta Schons and Henry O'Brien. Preceding him in death were his parents, Lois and Jerome Kriz; and granddaughter, Abby Kriz Bowman. Visitation: 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, at Cedar Memorial Chapel Stateroom. Memorial service: 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, at Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories. Online condolences are welcome at www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.

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Published by The Gazette on Sep. 14, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Richard Kriz

Sponsored by Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery Funeral Home.

1 Entry

Heidi Hartke

September 15, 2023

Dick Kriz was not only the father of my closest friend, Amy, he was one of the closest buddies of my father, Dave Rosenberg. Kriz told me often great stories from when he, my uncle John Rosenberg, and my dad grew up together - poor. This didn´t seem to stop any of them from having a whole lot of fun as youngsters, then as teens, later as adults with families and great occupations, and much later as older gentleman, tooling around in golf carts at St Andrews. They had been kids from the same neighborhood, staying at each other´s homes, sheltering each other when times got rough. Through the years, the three of them picked berries, assembled vehicles to drive from junked parts then drove them too fast (but they won, by golly), built a swanky houseboat on the Cedar River at Ellis Park, purchased all the scattered pieces of Vodoo, Vince Lombardo´s former speedboat, and made it fly over the rivers again.

Kriz was the Music Man, who discovered his gifts early and followed his dreams to music meccas all over the US - and the world. Kriz and Pinkie had three daughters, each amazing human beings, and it was always apparent how much he adored his wife and those girls.

Amy and I became friends in the 1990s, when we worked at the Library together. Our sons were born on the same day, in hospitals a few blocks away from each other. It wasn´t until much later that we learned that our dads were the best of friends, too! With the passing of Kriz, we´ve lost a talented musician, a loving father and husband, and a truly gifted storyteller. He is already missed. Love forever. - Heidi Rosenberg Hartke

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