Richard E. Pletcher, 85, of Clarion, passed away on Tuesday, September 30, 2025 at Iowa Specialty Hospital in Clarion. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 PM on Saturday, October 4, 2025 at Ewing Funeral Home, 1801 Central Avenue East in Clarion. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery in Clarion. Visitation will be held 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM prior to services at the funeral home on Saturday. Family and friends are invited back to the funeral home for lunch and fellowship following the graveside service. Richard Eugene, son of Eldon and Dorothy (Crowl) Pletcher, was born on May 21, 1940, in Goldfield. He attended Troy Township Country School, Eagle Grove Elementary, and Dayton Center Country School, graduating from Clarion High School in 1958. After high school, Rich went on to Eagle Grove Junior College in 1960, followed by his bachelor's degree from Iowa State Teachers College (later State College of Iowa, now University of Northern Iowa) in 1963. He returned to University of Northern Iowa to complete his master's degree in education between 1966 and 1967. Richard began his teaching career in Nashua, where he taught for three and a half years . In August of 1961, Rich married Judy Schulz. Together they raised three children: Teresa, Todd, and Tanya. Rich taught high school science in Clarion for 37 years with a passion for biology, until his retirement in May 2002. Rich had many interests outside of the classroom. First and foremost, he valued time with his family. He also enjoyed gardening, reading, traveling, helping on family farms, selling and planting trees, and playing cards. He was also an avid sports fan and loved the New York Yankees. Rich is survived by wife of 64 years Judy Pletcher; son Todd (Christine) Pletcher and daughter Tanya (Darren) Bierl; grandchildren Natasha Wilson, Katelyn (Dan) Pezold, Nicholas (Nina) Pletcher, Madison Bierl, Austin Bierl; great-grandchildren Gavin Wilson (fiancé Karlee Lehman), Georgia Wilson, Maeve and Harvey Pletcher, and Annie Pezold; and many other family and friends including Gary and Jane Locker. He was preceded in death by his parents Eldon and Dorothy; parents-in-law Frank and Georgia Schulz; step-father Fritz Jones; siblings Jean Jones and Ron Pletcher; and daughter Teresa.