Richard Flaherty
May 2, 1921 — August 27, 2017
Richard Flaherty, of Bettendorf, Iowa, passed away Aug. 27, 2017. Born May 2, 1921 in Cedar Rapids, Richard was the son of Leo and Alby Brown Flaherty. Both parents died young … Alby, age 25, in Cedar Rapids, Leo age 39, in Davenport. Step-mother Anna Plousky Flaherty Gyrsting died in 1985. Richard was the longest living member of his entire Flaherty family line since their arrival in Iowa, from Ireland, in 1850. Richard was 96 years old.
Richard’s earliest memory involved his 1925 kidnapping by members of bootlegger Al Capone’s gang. Richard was held for ransom, for one week, in a Fairfax, Iowa barn. He remembers this well, as his fall from the hayloft resulted in a broken arm. His hand still shows a faint scar from a knife wound received while erroneously trying to escape! Moving to Davenport soon after, Richard attended St. Joseph’s School, and has been a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church since 1927. After his father’s early death, his step-parents moved to Chicago, where Richard met and married Virginia Glover in 1941. Daughter Sharon (Marc Feldman) of Magnolia, Texas, and granddaughter Holly (Drew Vavrin) celebrate his long and colorful life, and will remember him always.
Richard married Rose Crisci in 1948 Iowa City. Rose retired from the Scott County Courthouse in 1989. Their daughter, Donna, recently passed away in 2011. Favorite memories of life with Rosie, before her passing in 2004, included their summer house in Le Claire, fishing, baseball games, The Cubs, Bishop’s buffets, celebrations with Crisci family and friends, nieces and nephews, and Richard’s impressive collection of fishing rods, reels, and lures. Richard retired from his local Flaherty Floor Sanding Service in 1988.
A heartfelt Thank You to Richard’s care-givers. You all gave so much of yourselves to provide for the care and attention he really needed these past few years.
Also, a thank you to the Staff at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf, who assisted in the comfort of Richard’s last few days.
Visitation at 10 AM on Thursday, August 31, 2017 followed by Funeral Services at 11AM, for Richard “Irish” Flaherty will be held at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Bettendorf. Burial will be at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Davenport, Iowa.
Memorial contributions to Our Lady of Lourdes Youth Ministry would also be a kind gesture of appreciation for their helpful services to the local elderly, and others in need.