We will miss Dick, our friend

If everyone grew up to be like Dick Varenhorst, the world would be a much better place.

It is sad to know he won?t be stopping by the office anymore. We will really miss him.

Five years have passed since he worked for us at the Free Press and Buyer?s Edge. What a great ambassador he was for Marion and our company.

His ?Thoughts from a Cluttered Mind? columns were always interesting and full of memories of days gone by.

He was always upbeat and cheerful and full of laughter. In fact, I can hear him laughing now.

When we first published ?Marion Memories, Vol. 1,? he was in the thick of helping it happen, as well as, ?Marion Memories, Vol. 2.? His know?ledge of Marion and its history was extremely helpful in those endeavors.

After he retired, he helped again in 2012 with the tribute book for Marion County veterans, ?Our Nation Called, Marion County Answered.?

Our hearts go out to Pam and his children at this difficult time. I?m glad I have now met daughter Catie, and got to hear son Garrett speak about his dad at the service at the Christ?ian Church in Marion Friday afternoon.

Garrett told of his first fishing trip with Dick at about age 7. He fell into the water after playing with the worms. Dick told him to stop flailing because he would scare the fish.

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This past Wednesday we ventured out of the house and took in the Leon Russell concert at the historic Fox Theater in Newton. I have owned one of his vinyl albums forever and thought it would be fun to hear him in person.

I wasn?t disappointed and especially liked it when the band disappeared and he played an electronic synthesizer solo. The guy can still play.

While researching his past, I learned he has played as a session musician with many of the greats, including B.B. King, George Harrison, Elton John?who introduced him when Russell was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?and many others too numerous to mention.

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I would like to know what is so compelling about the World Series that anyone would give a reported $700 and more for a ticket to millionaires for the privilege of seeing it in person.

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This week marks the seventh year since I had pros?tate cancer surgery at KU Medical Center. It is said that if you can make it seven years cancer-free, you are pretty much cured.

So, now I make my pitch to the men out there for having a PSA lab done after the age of 40 or 50 if you haven?t done so, in order to have a baseline to compare future PSA?tests with.

That is how mine was discovered?an elevated PSA reading?and that?s also how you discover it early, which increases your odds of survival.

If you wish to share your comments or ideas, my e-mail address is joel@
hillsborofreepress.com.

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