Dr. Richard L. Hale, 75, died peacefully on March 30, 2013 at the Kansas City Hospice House. A Celebration of Richard’s life will be held at 1:00 pm at the Unity of Kansas City North 1000 NE Barry Rd. KCMO 64155 on April 27, 2013. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to either the Kansas City Hospice House www.kansascityhospice.org or the Just One HungerInitiative at www.humanityinunity.org, (humanitarian tab)website.
Richard was born in Story City, Iowa on August 11, 1937 to Truman and Cora (Thompson) Hale, he was the fourth of four children. Richard was raised in a farming community in Ellsworth, Iowa and as a young man used his mechanical skills as he worked for Western Electric and IBM. He later earned his undergraduate, graduate and EdD in psychology from Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa. He worked in Des Moines, Iowa as a staff psychologist at Iowa Lutheran Hospital from 1979 to 1981 and later for a private psychiatric practice in Des Moines until 1984. After moving to Kansas City in 1986, he worked for Comprehensive Mental Health and later established a private practice in Blue Springs, MO that served many patients in eastern Jackson County until July 2010.
Richard had an avid passion for learning and continued his studies by postgraduate training at the Menninger Clinic in Topeka, KS and completed his academic Psychoanalytic training at the Greater Kansas City Psychoanalytic Institute in 2010. He was also a member of the American Psychological Association and the Mensa Society.
He was an accomplished professional musician who played most instruments and in particular the bass, guitar and flute. He was the bandleader of the jazz house band at Ernie’s Urban Lounge in Des Moines, Iowa during the 60’s and led and played many years with the band Kaleidoscope. He performed with Mike Ning and Sherry Jones in many venues around Kansas City. He was a member of the Local 34-627 Kansas City Federation of Musicians. He continued his musical career throughout his lifetime.
Those who knew and loved Richard appreciated his kindness and willingness to be there just when you needed it. He respected and believed in the dignity of everyone he met. He also had an amazing, contagious sense of humor and was always ready with a pun. He was varied in his interests throughout his life as he became an airplane pilot and also an ordained Interfaith Minister.
Richard was preceded in death by his brothers William H. Hale and Robert T. Hale. Those left to honor his memory include his wife, Carol Grenko, his two daughters LeAnne Hale Gioeli and her husband John Gioeli and Lucinda HaleHanover and her husband Doug Hanover, his sixgrandchildren, Melissa Lee Solomon, Christopher James Karwick, Vanessa Hale Clark, Brandon Hale Clark, Gabrielle Rose and her husband Gabriel John Huffstutler, Justin Gioeli and his five great grandchildren Isaiah, Ty, Jonah and Gabriel Solomon and Noah Huffstutler and his sister Shirley Johnston.
Dear Ones,
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
I love you very much,
Nancy
Dearest Lucinda,
All our love to you, and our respect and admiration and gratitude to your father.
Rik and Peg
Love lives powerfully in this family, and through a man I never had the opportunity to meet, yet feel Here/Now.
Blessings and Love to you All.
Anjara Alexi
LeAnne: Hilary and I offer you and your family our utmost sympathy and prayers as you grieve the passing of your father. Lou
Our love to you and your entire family.
Joe and Harriet
Dearest Lucinda,
What a beautiful story about a man committed to contributing, in his own way, to others. I am present to the difference he made for you, your family and the community at large. He was truly loved!
With appreciation, Debbie and Carl
Much love to everyone in the family.
Tom
What an incredible life to celebrate. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
Curt, Heather & Nathan Evans
My thoughts and prayers are with you Carol during this difficult time.
Thinking of you Carol. So sorry about your loss. Pls contact me if you need anything. I will be thinking of you.
Dear Lucinda and LeAnne,
Just saw the notice on Facebook. My deepest condolences and love to you both.
Norma
Sending much love and light to all of Richard’s tribe during this challenging transition and during the celebration of a life so fully lived.
It is obvious what a gift he was to this world.
Haley and Gabe
LeAnne, A great soul has departed, but the memories shall never fade. Your loss is huge, and I can only share your pain. May the soul that has gone, rest in peace. Keep faith and courage. Chris and I have you in our prayers.
We love you Lucinda. And we are with you always.
With gratitude to Richard for giving us his remarkable daughter,
Allan and Ann
Carol and family…I was so sorry when i heard today about Dick’s passing.. He was a good friend to Stuart and myself..There are many good memories. The planet has lost a friend.
Nadine
Dick and I were the last 2 male cousins from very large family(12) on maternal side. We were 1 year apart and grew up together on Iowa farms about 2 miles apart. Played together all the time, rode our ponies, played in the barns, dredge ditches and stayed with each other back and forth frequently. He was my best playmate as a kid and I will miss him very much.
I had the pleasure of being Richard’s CNA while i was in nursing school for a few months,and i have very vivid memeories of how kind he was. He made me feel at home, he made taking care of him so easy.I will never forget that infectious smile he had.He used to tell stories of how he grew up,stories about his children and grandchildren.I knew who LeAnne and Lucinda were,before i ever met them. He was such a proud father.
He alawys knew that was me at the door in the morning when i came in for my shift. To think that this whole i was thinking about paying him a visit?
Richard Hale was Angel sent to earth by God and it was time for him to go back. He is gonna be dearly missed and am proud to have had an opportunity of being in his presence. Rest in eternal peace.