Richard Allen Biederman

Richard A. Biederman, age 91, passed away on Saturday, July 20, 2024, at Faith Home Lutheran Nursing Home. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, July 26, 2024, at United Church of Christ in Osage with Reverend Dixie Laube officiating. The visitation will take place from 1:00-2:00 p.m. prior to the service at the church on Friday. Inurnment will be at the Osage Cemetery. Richard ‘Dick’ Biederman was born June 17, 1933, in Mason City, Iowa. He was the son of William H. and Grace (Allen) Biederman. The family lived in Mason City for three years, then moved to a farm north of Rudd, Iowa in 1936. Dick attended school in Rudd. In 1943, his family moved to the farm just north of Osage. He graduated from Osage High School in 1951, then studied agriculture at Iowa State for two years before entering the United States Army. He served for nineteen months as a Movement Control Specialist in the transportation office at a chemical depot in northern France. During his time in the Army, he was able to travel around Europe. Dick would never forget a trip to Berlin from the chemical depot in France, with a jeep, trailer, and seven hundred pounds of hand grenades. One hundred miles of this trip was through the Russian zone in Germany. After his military discharge, Dick returned to the family farm north of Osage. He farmed with his father, then took over the operation, raising corn, soybeans, and hogs. On August 14, 1965, Dick and Dora Dohler were married at the St. Ansgar Methodist Church. Then, in 1969, son Jon was born. Music was a big interest of Dick’s. He especially enjoyed grand opera and classical music. He collected over a hundred songs recorded by Caruso from the early 1900’s. Dick sang in several church choirs through the years and was a bass soloist. He sang in the United Church of Christ choir for around 65 years. He was a member of the River City Barbershop Chorus in Mason City for 17 years. He also sang in several groups around Osage, including several ‘Messiah’ presentations. He was a member of the Congregational/United Church of Christ for 78 years, serving on several boards and committees. Dick had type 1 diabetes for over 60 years. He was diligent in following the diet and exercise prescribed by his doctors, stayed in excellent health, and did not let this slow him down. Reading was one Dick’s favorite things in life. He loved to sit down with a good book. He was an avid sports fan, especially of the Boston Red Sox, University of Iowa Hawkeye football and basketball, and Osage High School sports. He enjoyed bowling, starting from his time in the military and continuing after retirement. In addition to his love of John Deere machinery, Dick also spent much time playing with Jon as a child and his ‘long green line’ of toy tractors and other implements. When Dick retired from farming, he and Dora moved to Osage, where they lived for 24 years. Dick moved to Faith Lutheran Nursing Home in 2024. Survivors include wife Dora; son, Jon (Jennifer) of Fayette; granddaughters, Haley (Ethan Hayes) of Waverly and Emma of Fayette; several nieces, nephews, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Grace; sisters, Dixie Pelo and Nancy Gilbert. Champion Funeral Home of Osage is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.schroederfuneralhomes.com.