Obituary of Richard E. Breazeale

Services for Richard Edward Breazeale will be held at 2 pm Tuesday, August 13, 2013, at the First Presbyterian Church in Iowa City. Visitation will be from 12 noon until the services at the church followed by a time of light refreshments and fellowship. There will be a private burial in Oakland Cemetery. Richard passed away peacefully at Lantern Park Care Center in Coralville on August 7. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the First Presbyterian Church or a charity of your choice. Online condolences may be sent for his family through the web @ www.gayandciha.com. Richard was born on January 12, 1923, a son of Edward W. and Alice Brown Breazeale. He was raised on a farm near Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and attended schools in Salem, graduating from Salem High School in 1940. While attending Salem High, he began dating Estyl King. Richard went into the service in 1943 and Estyl went to work in Washington, D.C. He returned home in March of 1946 and they were married in April at the Salem Congregational Church. Richard began his college career at the University of Iowa that fall, graduating three years later from the School of Business. He began working for the Maytag Company in Newton in 1949. That job took the family to Canada in 1959 where they stayed for three years. Choosing to return to the U.S., they put down roots in Iowa City. Richard co-owned a construction company, and later began selling real estate. He was a member and president of the Iowa City Board of Realtors, the El Kahir Shrine, and was instrumental in starting the Iowa City high school student-built homes project. For several years, through Friendship Force, he and Estyl hosted foreign visitors in their home. They also belonged to a ballroom dancing club, enjoying the time together, and with other members of the group. Richard's warmth, compassion, and generosity toward others was always apparent. He was willing to give advice and share his wealth of knowledge whenever asked. He enjoyed telling stories about the past (especially about growing up on the farm and experiences in the army), and anyone who knew him wanted to hear them again and again. His love and respect for his wife was enviable. He always told his family that "we are blessed." And they know it's true . . . for they had the good fortune to share their lives with him. Cherishing the memories are Estyl, his wife of 67 years, son Michael (Betty) Breazeale and Shannon Price, all of Iowa City; brothers Ben (Evelyn) and Ralph (Betty) Breazeale of Mt. Pleasant; brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, a son (Bruce), brother (Raymond), sister (Pauline Oldt), and several brothers- and sisters-in-law. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Richard's family and his services.