Obituary of Dick Thomas Cornick

Dick Thomas Cornick, 96, passed away Friday, November 29, 2024 at the Simpson Memorial Home in West Liberty.

Funeral services will be held 11:30 A.M. Friday, December 6, 2024 at the United Methodist Church in West Liberty. Visitation will be Friday at the church from 9:30 until service time. Burial will be in the Oak Ridge Cemetery, West Liberty. Memorials may be made to the West Liberty School Foundation or the Dick Cornick Memorial Fund.

Dick was born September 28, 1928 in Marsh, Iowa the son of Pearl and Emma (Bolan) Cornick. He was a graduate of Mt. Union High School and Iowa Wesleyan College and earned a Master’s Degree in Administration from the University of Iowa. On August 8, 1950 he was united in marriage to Beverly Wick with whom he shared 68 wonderful years. From 1951 through 1953, Dick served in the Army, achieving the rank of Sergeant.

Dick taught science, math and physical education and coached football, baseball and boys and girls’ basketball at a number of schools in Iowa. In 1961, he moved to West Liberty where he was principal, athletic director and student council advisor for the junior/senior high school. From 1967 through 1988 he served as the principal and athletic director for grades five through eight at the newly constructed middle school. In 1989, grades three through six were moved to the building and he served as principal until his retirement in 1993.

Dick was a member of the West Liberty Lions Club, West Liberty American Legion, Muscatine County Fair Board, West Liberty Golf and Country Club and the West Liberty United Methodist Church. Dick loved sports. He was an avid St Louis Cardinals and Iowa Hawkeye fan. He enjoyed playing golf, cards, bowling, spending time in Las Vegas, mowing the yard and helping his son-in-law and nephew with their farm work. Most of all he loved his family. He taught his grandchildren how to golf and to be die-hard Cardinal fans. He enjoyed attending all of their activities and was so proud of all of their accomplishments.

Dick will be truly missed by his daughters: Roxy (Mark) Gums of Las Vegas, Nevada and Tammy (Adam) Feldman of Atalissa. Grandchildren: Andy (Nicole) Gums and Luke (Eulalia) Gums of Las Vegas, Nick (Becky) Feldman of West Liberty, Jason (Ashley) Feldman of Wilton, Abby (Edgar) Ortiz of Atalissa. 14 great grandchildren: Avery, Kaelyn, Ireland, Dillon, Zachary, Kolby, Riley, Hadley, Makenzie, Wyatt, Lucy, Emmitt, Hudson and Nash. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, brothers: Gerald, Dwight and Ebb, sisters: Lucille, Lela Corrine, Mildred, Twyla, Bonnie and Connie, infant great granddaughter, Nova.