Dan James Richards of Creston, formerly of Winterset, was born June 3, 2002 in Des Moines, Iowa. The youngest of 4 children born to Danny Joe Richards and Laura Jeanmarie (Miller) Dowda. Dan, “Little Dan,” chose to take is own life on May 30, 2019. He was sixteen years old, soon to be seventeen. Dan was a beloved son, brother, grandson, friend, etc. He was our world.
Dan attended Winterset schools until his Sophomore year of high school. He attended his Sophomore year at Creston High School, which he was about to finish. In school, Dan was involved in choir, chess club and football. In his free time, he enjoyed lifting weights to prepare for the next football season.
He very much enjoyed playing video, RPG and board games. Dan loved nature, animals (especially our family cat, Wayne), and spending time with his friends and family. He liked fishing, singing, writing poems and reading. Dan had plans to attend many activities in his future including going into the military after high school.
Dan was the ideal son. He rarely talked back or argued. When he made mistakes, he was accountable for them. He was easygoing and so caring. Dan touched the lives of many. He didn’t have a mean bone in his body.
The family would like to note: to the bullies out there who succeeded in making Dan feel worthless, he wasn’t. The family has no hard feelings towards you, and you are forgiven. Your actions are between you and God now. Dan was so loved by many and was a sweet and caring young man. He had such a big heart and will be greatly missed. In lieu of flowers, we ask that everyone be kind to each other.
Dan was preceded in death by his grandparents: Ruth and James Miller, Larry Richards and Sandra Dowda; his great-grandfather, LeRoy Hanie; and great-grandmothers: Shirley Watson and Marjorie Underwood.
Dan is survived by his mother, Laura (husband Benjie) Dowda of Creston; his father, Danny Richards of Creston; 3 sisters: Mary Richards (fiance Tanner Porter) of Peru, Iowa, Danelle Richards (boyfriend Jordan Martin) of Winterset, Iowa and Amanda Richards of Peru, Iowa; grandparents: Tim and Jeannette Haynie of Creston, Bennie Dowda of Manitou Springs, Colorado and Virginia Brownrigg of Creston; great-grandmother, Nellie Jane Haynie of Ft. Wayne, Indiana; great-grandfather, Harold Keith Watson of Pleasant Plain, Iowa; many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
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