Richard Raymond "Dick" Ernst, 78, of Le Mars, Iowa, the man, the myth and the legend, passed away on Wednesday, December 29, 2021. Private family services were held.

Richard Raymond Ernst was born August 2, 1943, in Le Mars, Iowa to Raymond and Margaret (Wanderscheid) Ernst. The years between 1943 and 1968, Dick played by his own rules kicking butt and taking names along the way. Dick didn't suffer fools lightly until he became a fool in love with Nancy. Dick and Nancy made their home in Le Mars where Dick worked for many years at the packing plant. To all his packing house friends, he is now the HMFIC somewhere else.

Left to remember Dick are his wife, Nancy of 53 years, daughters, Victoria "Vicki" and Michelle and her husband Christopher; sisters, Darlene (Harley) Engeldinger, Mary (Jerry) Shields; a brother, Jerry (Nancy) Reiter; a sister in law, Berniece Reiter.

He was preceded in death his parents; brother, Darrell Reiter; and sister, Joyce Nuzum.