Richard Pettit

Richard Dean Pettit, 69, of Denver, CO passed away unexpectedly on Thursday June 10, 2021.  He was born March 10, 1952, in Waterloo, IA to Carl S. and Ethel O. (Forsythe) Pettit, the sixth of seven siblings: Leo Pettit, Leonard Pettit, Minerva (Pettit) Schuldt, Donald Pettit, Janice (Pettit) Cross, Carla (Pettit) Crabtree. He is survived by his sisters Janice and Carla. Rick attended Waterloo East High School where in the tenth grade he met and fell in love with his sweetheart for life, Sue Lynn (Blanck) Pettit.  Their hearts were intertwined from their first day until their last.

After high school, Rick served in the US Air Force. He was stationed in Grand Forks, North Dakota during which time he married Sue. Four years later they welcomed their first daughter Sarah Beth (Pettit) Jack.  After being Honorably Discharged at the rank of Sergeant, he returned home to Waterloo with Sue and Sarah: to his delight his second daughter Alyce Darlyn (Pettit) Poyner was born.  During his time in Waterloo, he worked hard and always provided well for his family. He earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education from The University of Northern Iowa. Rick was a loving father and was so pleased when the girls were married. He enjoyed the father-son relationship he had with his sons-in-law, Kenneth Jack and Nicholas Poyner.

In 2005 Rick and Sue moved to Colorado to join their family. His three grandchildren Abigale Nichole Poyner, Jackson Dean Poyner, and Richard Paul Jack became the center of his world.  Rick met two of his additional grandchildren for the first time when they greeted him in Heaven.  He retired in 2018 after working as an educator for the Colorado Department of Corrections.  You would find Rick busy spending time with and taking care of his family.  His favorite activities would include family day trips in the Rocky Mountains, the annual grandchildren trip, frequent family dinners, and walks with Sue and his dog Sergeant. Above all else, Rick would want to be remembered as a child of God.  He accepted Christ as his personal Savior in 1974. He took great joy in studying the Bible, praising and testifying to the work of God in his life, praying fervently for family and friends, and encouraging and ministering to all those around him. He took to heart Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.”

Iowa Service:
A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, June 27, 2021 at 1pm at the AmVets Post 49 located at 1934 Irving Street, Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613.

Colorado Service:
Interment will take place on Thursday, July 1, 2021 at Ft. Logan National Cemetery "Staging Area C." Following the interment a Celebration of Life will be held at Brave Church located at 3651 S. Colorado Blvd., Englewood, CO 80113.