Leo Richard "Dick" Larkin, 76, died November 27, 2007, at his home in Waukee, Iowa. Visitation will take place at 4 p.m. with Mass and reception at 5 p.m. Monday, December 3 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1627 Grand Ave., in West Des Moines.

Dick was born August 18, 1931, to Harry and Bridget (Buggee) Larkin in Rock Island, Ill. He attended St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa, served in the U.S. Air Force and then attended West Point Military Academy and the University of Illinois at Champaign. He married Margaret "Dode" Ostrander on Jan. 26, 1957.

He worked for almost 40 years as an independent insurance agent and retired in 1994. Dick participated in the Des Moines Jaycees, the Knights of Columbus, and the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick. He was president of the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce from 1970 to 1971 and was a parishioner of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in West Des Moines. He enjoyed bird watching, gardening and vacations with his many children and grandchildren, and he never missed a good St. Patrick's Day celebration.

Dick is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Dode; children Daniel and Dawn (Leanhart) Larkin, Meg Larkin, Pete Larkin, Anne (Larkin) and Kyle King, and Patrick and Barbara (Brown) Larkin; grandchildren Jennifer (Trier) and Dana Oredson, Michael and Keely Larkin, Max and Molly Friedrichsen, Shea and Harry Larkin, Mackenzie and Conor King, and Davis and Abigail Larkin; great-grandson Lars Oredson; and his beloved dog Maggie. He is also survived by brother Harry Larkin Jr. (and his wife Sue) and sister Hattie Dussliere (and her husband Lornie), as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents and by siblings Dalton, Mary, Betty, Peggy, Louis, Jack, Rita and Bobbie.

The Larkin family would like to thank Dr. Debra Welker and Julie C. at Medical Oncology and Hematology Associates.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to Dowling Catholic High School Scholarship Fund or the Iowa Knights of Columbus Charitable Foundation.