Dr. Richard H. Cockrum D.V.M. 91, Springfield, MO. passed away June 3, 2022, in his home, after a long illness. He was born to Oren and Desdemona (Graham) Cockrum on May 17, 1931, in Morehouse, MO. Richard was a member of the East Sunshine Church of Christ and was a United States Air-Force veteran. He loved gardening, orchards, and working outside with his hands.

Richard’s life was full of service to his family, community, church, and country. Following graduation in 1963 from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, he moved his family to Minburn, Iowa where he joined Dr. Lester Dugan in practice. After Dr. Dugan retired, Richard was able to grow the practice into a nationally recognized top 5 large/small single man practice. While in Minburn he served as mayor, was an active member of his Legion, helped plan the Centennial celebration, including raising a buffalo and then serving it during the festivities. He planned and helped at many meals in the community including hosting meals for the various classes at school and bought countless pies at the 4th of July celebrations over the years. He also served as County Fair Veterinarian for many years, as well as serving 18 years on the Minburn Telephone Company’s Board of Directors-16 of those years as Board President.

After 18 years,  Dr. Cockrum retired from practice in 1981 to pursue a dream that began while an undergraduate student at ISU. In 1961 he became interested in immunology and “pure” colostrum. His interest was encouraged by one of his professors. After his retirement from practice, he was then able to begin actively pursuing the development of colostrum-based products for the livestock industry. Immuno-Dynamics developed products from first milking colostrum that helped boost the health and productivity naturally via the lymphatic system. Its foundation product ID-1, expanded into a number of animal products. The company moved production and shipping to Dodgeville, Wisconsin in 1981 and expanded in 2005 with a new state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Fennimore Wisconsin.

With the help of his wife, Linda, and his Office Manager, Marlilyn McGlothlen, Immuno-Dynamics, Inc. became a force in colostrum application and regulatory acceptance of safe processing over the next 40 years. The company was sold to the Nelson family of companies in December of 2020. A week before passing, on his 91st birthday, he beamed when told of the planned expansion to the facility he and his wife, had built in Fennimore, Wisconsin.

As a lifelong steward of trees and land, he purchased a piece of gently rolling wooded land in Hickory County, Missouri. Now, in his eighties, with a saw in hand or on his tractors, the expression “you plant trees so that others can sit in the shade” was never more true. That “little house” became the favorite gathering place of children, grandchildren, and others where work and play were one and the same.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, William Oren and Mona Cockrum and his brother, Robert Cockrum. He is survived by his wife, Linda J. Kincaid Cockrum. They were married on November 29, 1980, in Minburn Iowa. He is also survived by his children and their spouses: Kimberly Cockrum of Peoria, AZ, Kathryn (James) Beni of Dallas Center, IA, Mark (Darla) Burton of Montfort, WI, Scott (Judy Greer) Burton of Phoenix, AZ, and Stephanie (Troy) Birt of Woodward, IA, Nine grandchildren: Amber (James) Paul of Cartersville, GA, Devin (Lindsay) Beni of Dallas Center IA, Emma (Daniel) Cross of Madison WI, Asa Burton of Madison, WI, Paul Burton of Montfort, WI, Jack Potter of Woodward IA, Oliver Potter of Woodward, IA, Oscar Potter of Woodward, IA, and Brooks Birt of Woodward, IA, great-grandchildren, who are children of Devin and Lindsay: Samuel Beni of Dallas Center, IA, and Natalie Beni of Dallas Center, IA.  He is also survived by his siblings and their spouses: Chareen Neeley of St. Ansgar , IA, Rodger Cockrum of Livingston, WI, Ralph (Kaye) Cockrum of Houston, MO, and Ray (Connie) Cockrum of Columbia, MO, along with numerous nieces and nephews, as well as long-time friends

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 11, 2022, at East Sunshine Church of Christ, with burial to follow, at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be one hour before services from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the church. In lieu of flowers, Memorial Donations may be made in Richard’s memory to Springfield Community Gardens (Springfieldcommunitygardens.org)

Livestream link:   https://vimeo.com/717968995