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Richard Francis "Dick" Wallen, 93, of Sioux City passed away Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, at Westwood Nursing and Rehab Center, after a second hip replacement, followed by several health complications.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. The Rev. Roger Linnan will officiate. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a vigil service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Online condolences may be sent to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Dick was born a middle and twin son out of 10 children (five girls and five boys) to Harry and Eva (Adams) Wallen in Independence, Kan., on Feb. 10, 1921. In the 1930s, Dick's father, Harry Wallen, moved his family to Sioux City where he was hired by the Abu Bekr White Horse Mounted Patrol to train trick horses. When Harry passed away in 1941, Dick at the age 20, took over as head trainer.

Dick married Marilyn Jean Sweeny on Dec. 15, 1941, in Sioux City.

In 1942, Dick enlisted into the U.S. Army. After training, he was sent to Europe for the duration of World War II, where he served as a drill sergeant. While stationed in Sicily, Italy, he bought a three-month old jenny donkey from a farmer and named her Edda Mussolini after Mussolini's daughter. Dick trained Edda to perform more than 30 tricks. His commanding officers were so impressed with the performance that they promoted him into Special Services to entertain the troops and the wounded in the hospitals. Dick and Edda performed more than 750 shows in Europe. When the war was over in 1945, Dick was able to bring Edda back to the U.S., where he traveled for two years putting on their shows. Through the years, Dick gave generously of his time and talents by performing free shows for hospitals, schools, orphanages, nursing home and fundraisers.

In 1941, Dick opened his own horse training stables, training countless champion horses and riders. In 1957 and 1958, he was voted Most Popular Trainer for ISHA (Iowa Show Horse Association). Dick was inducted into the Hall of Fame for the Iowa State Fair and also the Hall of Fame for the UPHA (United Professional Horsemen's Association).

Dick hosted 57 years of horse shows at his stable. He and his children and customers would go to the 20-plus horse shows per year and he would still find time to judge a lot of shows himself. Exhibitors loved showing under him as he was known to be a fair and square judge. Dick also served as a coach and manager in 2002 for our team at the Saddle Seat World Cup Olympics in Johannesburg, Africa.

In 1998, Dick trained 10 Pinto American Saddlebreds to rear and walk on their hind legs for Michelle Macfarlane. They performed at the closing ceremonies at the Olympics in Nagano, Japan. After the Olympics, the Japanese Racing Association purchased Silver Lady, Silver Flask's full sister for a performing high school horse. Other trick horses have gone to Dolly Parton's theme parks in Missouri, Tennessee and North Carolina. Melinda Moore owned a Wallen-trained white horse named Snow Man. Still many others have gone to circuses and individual entertainers.

Internationally famous for his trick horses, Dick will always be remembered for his signature trick, a horse sitting up in a chair waving their front legs in the air. He will also be remembered for his National Show Horse, Power of Love. In the 1990s Power was five gaited World Champion for five years, his record has never been matched.

One of Dick's very favorite rides was in 1980, winning the World Championship on Bermuda Triangle, in the three-year old five gaited class in Kentucky out of 22 head. Dick was so happy to be a Shriner with the Abu Bekr White Horse Mounted Patrol. He proudly carried the American Flag for more than 70 years for many parades including the Nixon Inaugural Parade and two Rose Bowl Parades.

Dick was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, The Riverside Masonic Lodge, White Horse Mounted Patrol and the American Legion-Monahan Post 64.

Dick is survived by his wife, Marilyn with whom he has celebrated 73 years; his children, Linda Wallen of Kankakee, Ill., Rick Wallen of Marshall, Wis., John Wallen of Sparta, Mo., Debbie Wallen of Trinidad, Colo., Robb Wallen (Betsy) of Temecula, Calif., James Wallen of Louisville, Ky., Jeanne Trizila (Terry) of Sioux City, and Brent Wallen of Sioux City; a sister, Bernadine Bovee of California; eight grandchildren, Christy, Michael, Matthew, Becky, Nick, Alex, Carrie and Austen; several great-grandchildren.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents; four children, Kathy Rae, Randy, Monty and Jody; eight brothers and sisters.

Memorials may be directed to STARS (Special Troopers Adaptive Riding School) or The Shriner's Children's Hospital.