Richard "Dick" Allen Peura

Richard "Dick" Allen Peura, 93, passed away Saturday, December 9, 2023 at ACMC. He was born July 21,1930, the oldest child of Matt Jalmer and Helmi Marie (Jarvi) Peura, in Conneaut, Ohio.  Shortly after his birth, his family relocated to Ashtabula, Ohio. 

Dick was a graduate of Ashtabula Harbor High School where he was an avid sportsman, lettering in football, basketball, and track. During summers, he played American Legion baseball, church league softball, and basketball for VFW Lakeside Cleaners.  He also umpired baseball and softball games in the county and city, and he was a city basketball official for many years.  A U.S. Army veteran, he served in the Korean Conflict. He had been employed in the telephone industry, retiring from Alltel - Ashtabula Region Company after 37 years. Dick supervised the engineering and construction of the first fiber optic cable and underground environmental manhole in the State of Ohio at the Perry Nuclear Power Plant.

He was a lifetime member of Bethany Lutheran Church, serving on church council, various committees, as an usher, lector and choir member, and organizer of church basketball, softball and golf leagues as well as coach. His community service and memberships included:  Ashtabula City Councilman, Ward 1 (4 years, 2 terms), Republican Precinct Committee member and  Ashtabula City Republican Party vice president,  Ashtabula Port Authority (2 years), Saybrook Township Trustee (12 years, 3 consecutive terms), Ashtabula, Harbor and Lakeside Alumni Association, Ashtabula County Sports Hall of Fame Nominating Committee, Lakeside Board of Education Advisory Committee, Elks Club, American VFW, Harbor Athletic Boosters, North End Club board member and president, Ashtabula Kiwanis Club board member and officer, and Ashtabula Follies performer.  Dick was also instrumental in forming the Harbor Merchant Association.

His parents preceded him in death.  

Survivors include his wife, Dolores Candela Forinash Peura, whom he married at Bethany Lutheran Church in 1982; children, Lynn A. (David) Pontius, Lois (Ronald) Fritchen and James M. Peura; stepchildren, Deborah (James) McElroy and David Forinash; grandchildren, Adam (Nicole) Pontius, Caitlyn Pontius Andrulis, Meadow Pontius, Gregory Fritchen and Lauren McElroy; great-grandchildren, Luke and Mila Pontius and Michael Andrulis; brother, Robert (Eleanore) Peura; and sister, Nancy (Terry) Mohr.

Funeral service will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, December 16, 2023, with prior visitation 10:00-11:30 a.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church, 933 Michigan Avenue, Ashtabula OH 44004 with Rev. David Anderson officiating.  Full military burial will follow at Saybrook Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Bethany Lutheran Church.

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