Richard “Dick” J. Bakey, 88, of Dubuque, Iowa, passed away on July 3, 2025, at Bethany Home.

Friends and family may visit from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road. An additional visitation will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday, starting at 9:00 a.m. until the time of service.

A Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at the funeral home with Pastor Brian Schwering officiating. Burial will be in Dubuque Memorial Gardens. Military Honors will be accorded by the American Legion Post #6, as well as a detail from the Iowa State Patrol.

Dick was born on November 22, 1936, in Dubuque, Iowa, the son of James and Bernice (Cavanaugh) Bakey. He attended Dubuque Senior High School before graduating from Peosta High School. Dick honorably served his country for over two years in the Iowa National Guard, and almost eight years in the United States Air Force as an Airman 2nd Class. He was united in marriage to Keiko Yamashiro in Okinawa, Japan. He worked as a Police Officer for one year before serving as an Iowa State Patrol Officer for five years in Iowa Falls before serving almost 25 years in Dubuque. Richard was a member of the Dubuque Seventh-Day Adventist Church and the Iowa State Troopers Association. Dick was an honorable public servant his entire adult life: first in the military, and second in law enforcement.

Richard is survived by his wife Keiko; children, Ruth (Jim) Bond of Fort Myers, Florida, John (Pat) Bakey of Omaha, Nebraska, Julie (Craig) DeMoss of Dubuque, Paula Bakey of Coralville, Iowa, and Cris (Nikki) Bakey of Dubuque; eight grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; brothers Gene “Mudd” Bakey of Surprise, Arizona, and John (Ruth) Bakey of East Dubuque, Illinois; sister-in-law Juanita Bakey of Dubuque; brother-in-law Mike Breen of Dubuque.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Jerry Bakey; sister-in-law Kay Bakey; sister and brother-in-law Carol and Gary Smith; sister and brother-in-law Darlene and Mark Beckman; and sister Mary Breen.

In lieu of flowers, a Richard “Dick” J. Bakey Memorial Fund has been established.

The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the staff at Bethany Home for the loving and compassionate care extended to Dad these last seven and a half years. It was truly his home away from home. And to Megan, Chris, and Jeremiah from Hospice of Dubuque for providing comfort and care during Dad’s final days.