Richard "Rich" L. Hills, age 66, passed away in the loving care of his family on August 22, 2026 in Iowa City, Iowa listening to the music he loved.

He was born November 25, 1959 in Washington, Iowa to the late Richard "Dick" and Lois (Chamberlin) Hills. He graduated in 1977 from Columbus Community Schools where he excelled in the music department.

He spent his entire childhood and most of his adult life in the Columbus Junction community. He had a brief stay in California while he chased his dreams as a musician.

As a teen, Rich joined his father's band as a drummer before traveling the country with a band of his own, Blue Sky, with Rick Metzger and Randy Matthiessen among a handful of other groups.

He worked for 30 years as a talented welder and craftsman where he used his skills to build just about anything his creativity could come up with including his own racecar from scratch. Everything he built usually had a motor on it one way or another, including his kayak. He enjoyed rebuilding late model cars, then showing them, and driving in surrounding area parades. Along with the cars, he built gas bikes and would dress up as Santa Claus, riding his prized skull bike to entertain the kids.

Racing was a passion that brought Rich behind the wheel of fast cars and trucks at the CJ Speedway for 20 years from around 1980–2000 where he won both his first and last races plus many others, but you could find him at the track almost every weekend typically up in the grandstands at his favorite spot and sometimes as an announcer in the past too. He loved interacting with the racing community and the lasting friendships he made.

He spent much of his later years and retirement enjoying time down at the river camping, fishing, and driving his motorcycle. The urge to build new things never left him. He enjoyed learning new things, branching out and even building a hydroponic garden that he shared his rewards with family and friends from.

Beyond all of that, however, Rich was a dedicated father who poured everything into taking care of his son Dakota Hills as well as his future daughter-in-law Erica Bussey and beloved grandbunnies Stuart and Lady Hills.

He shared his passion for music and fishing with his son, which they spent much of their time together enjoying, and hitting the race tracks in years past.

Rich was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, Addison and Margaret Hills, Verne and Gladys Chamberlin, brother, William Hills, and an infant brother.

He is survived by his son Dakota (Erica Bussey) Hills of Iowa City, sisters Deborah (Bruce) Tompkins of Rapid City, South Dakota, Sherry Buffington of Columbus Junction, brothers George (Darla) Hills of Muscatine, Douglas (Ingrid) Hills of Schwabhausen, Germany, and Robert Hills of Muscatine and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Rich is forever thankful for the time he spent with his chosen brother Brian Steahr, though, wished they could have met earlier in life to share in more adventures together. He also cherished his many lifelong friends that he grew up with.

His smile and outgoing, if also reserved, personality will be extremely missed by his family, friends, and communities he touched, leaving behind a hole that can never be filled, but can be mended by the love and appreciation he showed to those he knew best.

A celebration of life for Rich will be held on September 12, 2026 at the American Legion in Columbus Junction, Iowa from 1–4 p.m.