Richard W. Cornick, 97, of Mt. Pleasant, died Tuesday, September 3, 2024 at the Klein Center in West Burlington, IA. 
He was born September 21, 1926 in Mt. Pleasant. Richard was the son of Parke Forrest and Aletha Marie (Orn) Cornick. He attended East Highland Country School south of his home and graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School. Richard attended the University of Iowa, majoring in Labor Relations and Industrial Management. graduating in 1952 with a BS degree in Commerce. He completed his hours for a Master’s degree but was called to active duty before completing his thesis. While at the university, he served in the National Guard 34th Division Reconnaissance Company as a tank commander. He was discharged from the guard as a Sergeant First Class.
As a Distinguished Military Graduate of the Reserve Offices Training Corp while at the University of Iowa, Richard entered the US Army on July 20, 1952 and served as a Counterintelligence Corp detachment operations office on Ashaigawa Island of Hokido, Japan with the 441st Counterintelligence Corp Detachment. He was honorably discharged on April 19, 1954 as a 1st Lieutenant. He served as a Reserve Officer in different units of the Army Reserves until his discharge from the Reserves in 1960.
Richard’s business background and occupations were most eclectic. From 1954-1988, he was a grain and livestock farmer, where he owned and managed Cornick Feed and Equipment Co., selling feed and short line equipment. During those years, Richard was a licensed Private Investigator for 2 years, was a Dealer Sales Representative with Arts Way Manufacturing Company, was an Organizer and Member of the Advisory County of the National Mobile Home Cities Corp. and was a Director of the Mt. Pleasant Bank and Trust Company. He obtained Iowa Real Estate Agent and Broker licenses and was a partner in Van Syoc-Hoyer-Cornick, and Aureco, Inc. – a property holding Corp. owned by Van Syoc-Hoyer-Cornick. He later engaged in the operation of the Van Syoc Cornick Auction and Realty Company. In 1986, Richard formed Cornick Realty, Inc. and obtained an Iowa Certified General Real Property Appraiser License in 1991.
Richard was a member of the First United Methodist Church. He was a Mason with Mt. Pleasant Lodge #8 AF & AM and a 32nd Degree Mason of the Scottish Rite of Des Moines. He was a member of the Kaaba Shrine Temple of Davenport, the Farm Bureau of Iowa, the American Legion Robert Tribby Post #58, the Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge and Iowa Beta Chapter of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity of the University of Iowa. He was very active in the Republican Party at the county and state levels. He had served many local civic organizations, including the Pleasant Hill Cemetery Association, the Community Chest, the local Red Cross Chapter, the March of Dimes, the American Cancer Society, the Mt. Pleasant Community School Board Study Committee and the Board of Associates of the former Iowa Wesleyan College.
Richard held both private and commercial airplane pilot’s licenses. He was a certified scuba diver. He enjoyed skiing, hunting and fishing. Richard was an avid boater, traveling over 6,000 miles in three boat trips. He also computerized the Cornick Family Genealogy.
On February 2, 1951 in Mt. Pleasant, Richard married Phyllis Mae Barnum. The couple later divorced. On September 25, 1996, he married Karen Louise Johnson. The couple later divorced. Has been with his good friend and companion Brenda Frederick for many years.
Survivors include his companion Brenda; his 3 children with his first wife Phyllis – son Douglas Cornick and his wife Deborah, son Bradford and his wife Janice, and daughter Debra; his grandchildren – Doug’s children Heath and Heather, Bradford’s child Kesha and Debra’s child Cody; his great grandchildren – Heath’s children Dean and Nora and Kesha’s children Zoey and Emilia. Richard is also survived by his former second wife Karen.
Richard’s parents, former first wife Phyllis and Bradford’s son Jade precede him in death.
Friends may call from 12 Noon to 7 PM on Friday, September 13 at the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 North Main Street, Mount Pleasant. The family will be present to receive friends from 5-7 PM. At the conclusion of the visitation, a public Masonic service will be conducted at 7 PM by the Mt. Pleasant Lodge #8 AF & AM. A private graveside service will take place at Pleasant Hill Cemetery. The Reverend Court Fischer will officiate. Military Honors will be provided by Iowa Military Funeral Honors and the Henry County Honor Guard.
Those considering an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the Pleasant Hill Cemetery Association or the Mt. Pleasant Masonic Lodge #8.