Richard "Dick" L. Dahms, 82, of Traer, passed away Saturday, November 18, 2017 at Sunrise Hill Care Center in Traer. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, November 25, 2017 at 10:00 AM at the Traer United Methodist Church with Pastor Martha Bennett officiating. Interment will follow at Buckingham Cemetery in rural Traer. Visitation will be held Friday, November 24, 2017 from 4-7 PM at the Traer United Methodist Church.

Richard was born on September 18, 1935 in Grinnell, Iowa, the son of Harry and Emma (Boldt) Dahms.

He graduated from Traer High School and from the Iowa State Teachers College (UNI) in Cedar Falls.

On August 9, 1959, he was united in marriage to Mary Lou Stratton in Maxwell, Iowa. Dick was a State Farm Insurance Agent in Jewell, Iowa for several years and then taught High School in Traer from 1958-1963 as an Industrial Arts teacher. He briefly sold feed and seed for MoorMan's and then established the State Farm Insurance Agency in Traer until his retirement in 1999. Dick was a member of the Traer United Methodist Church. He was one of the founding members of the Traer Museum. He was also a member of the Traer Library Board, and a former Jaycee member. Dick liked tractors, fishing, and his dog "Josie". He and Mary Lou loved to travel. His greatest joy was the time his spent with his grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife of fifty-eight years, Mary Lou of Traer; his daughter, Denise (Don) Schmid of Beulah, MI; his son, Dirk (Kim) Dahms of Traer; grandchildren, Alexsis Glesener, Gabriel Glesener, Gemma Glesener, Dane (Savannah) Dahms, Tyler, Tanner, and Claire Dahms; great-grandchildren, Ava Dahms, and Lily Lewandowski; and several nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his parents; three brothers, Arlo, Bob Dahms and a brother in infancy; and three sisters, Rosetta Eckhart, Marlys Arp, and Loretta Dahms.

Memorials may be directed to the Traer Library or Traer Museum.