Richard D. Lakin

Richard “Rich” D. Lakin, 52, of Newton, died Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015. A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 13 at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory. The family will greet friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12 at the funeral home. Memorials in Rich’s name may be left at the funeral home.

Rich, the son of Larry and Connie (Johnson) Lakin, was born July 26, 1963, in Iowa City. Rich was a lifelong resident of Newton, and graduated from Newton High School in 1981. He had worked at TPI for the last four years. Rich loved his family, including his pets, and enjoyed spending holidays with the whole family around. Rich was an avid Kansas City Chiefs and Iowa Hawkeye fan. He also liked to sing karaoke; his favorite song to sing to his wife was “Can’t Help Falling In Love” by Elvis.

Those left to honor Rich’s memory are his wife, Lori Lakin of Newton; daughter, Erika (Stephen) Mahoney of Des Moines; his sons, Tyler Lakin and Dalton Lakin, both of Newton; grandchildren, Willow, Baylin, Jaden and Layla; his parents, Larry and Connie Lakin of Newton; father-in-law, Bob VanderVeer of Newton; mother and father-in-law, Lynn and Marvel Jones of Newton; his sister, Lorrie Lakin of Newton; his brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews; and his loving pets, Mia, Cleo, Sox and Sylvester. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Ruth and Bill Phipps; maternal grandfather, Gene Johnson; paternal grandparents, Bill and Iva Swisher; uncle, Phillip Johnson; and pets, Shyene and Scheko.