Richard Higginbottom, 84, was called home on September 5, 2017. He was born in Des Moines on October 27, 1932, to Frank and Vernal (Burgess) Higginbottom. Richard grew up on the family farm near Elkhart and graduated from Farrar High School in 1949. In 1952, he enlisted in the US Army, trained as a specialist in the Signal Corps at San Luis Obispo, California and served with the 8034th in Tokyo during the Korean War. It was there that he began training in recreational weightlifting and body building. Following his discharge, Richard returned to Polk County and took up farming with his dad while holding down a full-time supervisory position at the John Deere plant in Ankeny. He continued his weight training and bodybuilding programs under the supervision of Ben Sorenson, entering local and state competitions throughout the late 1950s and winning 3rd and 2nd place titles in the 1956 and 1957 Mr. Iowa Contests. On June 15, 1957, Richard married Darlene Stanfel and they made their newlywed home in Elkhart. In 1966, Richard and Darlene purchased their own farm west of Farrar and moved their young family into the old farmhouse where they stayed until their new home was built ten years later. By 1973, the Higginbottom farm operation had grown so large that Richard decided to retire from John Deere and devote himself to farming fulltime. Relaxation came in the way of annual, week-long fishing trips to Canada with his family and friends. In early 1993, Richard returned to weightlifting and by the fall had entered a local competition in the over 60 class, taking 1st place with a bench press of 325 lbs. The following winter he suffered a debilitating stroke, the effects of which he endured - but adapted to, for the next 23 years of his life. Richard was a strong man with an even stronger will to live. A loving husband, an excellent role model to his kids and grandkids, and a steadfast friend and neighbor, Richard will be missed by many. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Fred, and granddaughter Mary and is survived by wife and life-long companion Darlene; sons Norman (Nancy), Daniel (Diana) and daughters Jayne (Susan) and Amy (Allen) Finchum; grandchildren Joshua, Luke, Keith, Seth, Erin, Nicole; sister Miriam (Robert) Welch and many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held 5-7 p.m. Friday, September 8 at Rasmusson-Bacon Funeral Home in Maxwell. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, September 9 at the Elkhart Christian Church in Elkhart with Pastor Kevin Jones officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at the Elkhart Cemetery in Elkhart. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Rasmusson-Bacon Funeral Home in Maxwell is handling arrangements.