Richard “Dick” Leland McLain, age 96, of Cheshire, Connecticut, formerly of Urbandale, Iowa, died peacefully after a brief illness at his home at Elim Park Place on Sunday, October 11, 2026.

Son of the late Marvin and Nina (Stone) McLain, Dick was born on December 29, 1929, and raised on a dairy farm near Brooklyn, Iowa. He met his beloved wife, Mary Read, while roller skating at Iowa State College (now Iowa State University), where he majored in Dairy Husbandry and was a member of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity. That meeting led to a marriage in 1952 that would last 68 years.

After serving in the U. S. Air Force, Dick began a career in field services with Iowa Farm Bureau. His work took him many miles across Iowa, supporting the organization and the agricultural communities it served. He remained with Farm Bureau until retirement. His commitment to his community extended beyond his work: he served on the Clive, Iowa, City Council from 1971-1977, and was a longtime member of the Iowa Lions Club.

Retirement gave Dick and Mary more time for the things they loved, such as traveling in their RV, spending winters in Arizona, polka dancing, and gardening. Dick also enjoyed golfing, shuffleboard, and was a die-hard Iowa State Cyclones fan. In 2015, Dick and Mary moved to Cheshire to be closer to their daughter Susan, and became a part of the Elim Park Community.

Dick is survived by his children, Susan Kellogg and her husband, Dr. Michael Kellogg, of Cheshire, and David McLain and his wife, Denise, of Concord, North Carolina. He also leaves his cherished grandchildren, Eileen McLain, Alex and Will Kellogg, and Kyle, Travis, and Read McLain; two great-grandchildren, Nolan and Evelyn McLain; and his brother-in-law, Gene Zinn. He was predeceased by his wife, Mary, in 2020; his son, Stephan McLain; and his sister, Muriel Zinn.

A service will be held at the First Congregational Church of Cheshire at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Congregational Church of Cheshire, 111 Church Drive, Cheshire, CT 06410. The Alderson-Ford Funeral Home of Cheshire has been entrusted with his arrangements. To leave online condolences for Dick’s family, please visit www.fordfh.com.