Prugh-Thielen Funeral Home - Randolph "Randy" T. Dodds, 68, West Burlington

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Randolph Thomas Dodds died at 9:15 p.m. Tuesday evening at Great River Hospice in Burlington after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

Randolph, or Randy to anyone who knew him, was born Jan. 11, 1949 to Donald and Lorraine Dodds of Ottumwa, later of Burlington.

He attended the Burlington Community School District and graduated in 1967. He worked several jobs after high school including positions at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant, Trane Corp., Coppus Murray and ended his career at Dresser-Rand where he retired in 2008. He also owned several businesses including The Racer's Edge and Wet Pets pet store.

Randy married Pamela Ann (Rheinschmidt) Vandenberg in July of 1988, inherited her four children as his own and they made a home in West Burlington.

He was an avid race fan and had passions for visiting with friends and family, the Iowa Hawkeyes, and the San Francisco 49ers. From a very young age, Randy was fixated with automobiles and racing, working on pit crews at 34 Raceway and racing in his youth while working on cars with his father.

He was also a former member of Boy Scout Troop 68 out of Burlington.

DODDS

He is survived by his wife; his sister Pam (Dodds) Vroom (husband Jim) of Burlington; his four children: Dan Rheinschmidt (wife Karen) of Cape Coral, Fla., Chuck Vandenberg (wife Lee) of Fort Madison, John Vandenberg (wife Susan) of West Burlington and Mike Vandenberg (wife Tracie) of West Burlington; eight grandchildren; Brandon Rheinschmidt, Heather Rheinschmidt, Taylor Vandenberg, Hayden Wilson, Kelsey Vandenberg, Natalie Vandenberg, Hayden Vandenberg and Amelia Vandenberg and a nephew Jason Schmitz

He is preceded in death by his parents.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting memorials be made out to Great River Hospice.

A visitation was held on Friday, October 6 at Prugh-Thielen Funeral Home with a graveside commital in Apsen Grove Cementery in Burlington following the visitation.

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