Richard Blackie"
September 21, 1948 ~ February 24, 2011
Richard Gage also known as, 'Iowa Blackie,' age 62 of New Hampton died Thursday February 24, 2011, at his home.
A Memorial Service for 'Iowa Blackie' will be held later in the spring. Funeral services are with Hugeback & Chenoweth Funeral Home in New Hampton.
Richard was born September 21, 1948, in Charles City, the son of Dean L. and Gertrude (Wolfers) Gage. He attended school in New Hampton through his junior year of high school. The family moved to Hampton in 1966 and he graduated high school there in 1967. He briefly served in the United States Navy and was honorably discharged in April of 1968.
From an early age, Richard was captivated by railroading. He caught his first freight train ride in June of 1963 for a short ride from New Hampton to Oelwein. Riding the rails became a passion with Richard and he lived the life of a hobo. He took the name “Iowa Blackie” and regularly attended the National Hobo Convention in Britt, IA. He was elected King Of The Hobo’s at the 1993 convention.
Iowa Blackie was a prolific writer and published a number of books including “The Latest Collected Works Of Iowa Blackie” and “Fall Of The Chicago Great Western Railroad & Other Poems”. Another passion of Rick’s was motorcycles and he believed that Harley Davidson were the only real motorcycles.
Survivors include two brothers, Martin Gage of Mason City, IA, Larry Gage of Laguna Vista, TX. He was preceded in death by his parents
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I met Blackie one Summer Day in 2003 while I was visiting The Hub City Chicago Great Western Museum in Oelwein,Iowa on a weekday which was closed. I was very disappointed at this but somehow Blackie managed to get a hold of somebody named Dana who worked across the street from the museum in a local body shop that had keys to the museum.Thanks to Blackie, I was able to get a free tour of the Hub City Museum & yard tower that day.I was thrilled as I had drove 375 miles from Chicago to see the museum.Thanks to Blackie, he was a great guy. I will never forget that day. RIP Richard Gage ‘Iowa Blackie’. Dave Gloeckle from Berkeley,IL
I was 8 years old in 1973 when my parents built a house overlooking the Gages back yard in Hampton, Ia. We always knew when Rick was home visiting his parents because his raggedy old sleeping bag would be hanging on the clothes line. My mom said he was nuts and to stay away from him, but my dad said he was a very intelligent man who chose to live his life in his own way.
my best remembrence was in oelwein-the fall of 1977. i was working 3rd shift train service for the cnw and we had a new foreman visit us at the fuel shanty to introduce himself to us and vice-versa. ia blkie was also in the building and as we shook his hand we told him our name and craft, richard proudly offered a handshake and said i`m iowa blackie – itinerant! we wre told to escort him to the prperty line poat-haiste! lol
I am very sorry for Rich’s family’s loss. I didn’t know him personally, but as a resident of New Hampton, I’ll miss seeing him out around town on his bike! You will be missed.
Rick…What an interesting soul. Our family was lucky to be your friend and share your history. Always the adventurous one. My brother proudly owns the books you wrote. Us New Hampton peeps, were like one big happy family back in the day. My mother enjoyed the long talks you two had these past few years. You never forgot us from our school days. We talked about you a lot as you lived your life free spirited. Every time you came home to visit, you taught us something new. Even in passing, you’re still teaching us about life & living free. Rest easy precious soul. You’ve earned your wings.
Unfortunately, I got the bad news very late, but was so sad to hear of your passing. I will miss seeing you at the Hobo Convention and hearing you speak. You had a great mind with many great things to say. I will always treasure your poetry.
Blackie was a frequent visitor to our Book Shop on the Luther College campus. We are saddened to learn of his passing. He was always cheerful and we will miss how he always had a poem to pass around. To all family and friends of Blackie, please know you are in our thoughts and prayers. The Luther Book Shop staff
Ricky-thanks for walking me home. You were so misjudged. Rest with the angels.
I will miss talking with Blackie in Britt (IA). He always had a twinkle in his eye and something thought-provoking to say. Rest in peace, friend. Love, Sunrise
I had the pleasure of meeting Iowa Blackie a few years ago when he came into my work at Granite Gear (Two Harbors, MN). I was new here, and I leaned from co-workers that he was a regular. How I loved hearing him go on with his stories of his travels and thoughts on this and that during his summer visits with us year after year. Summer is going to be a lot colder here in Minnesota without a visit from Iowa Blackie. Rest in peace and never run out of paper up there IB!
I am glade that we had the chance to meet you . Reast in peace.
We met Blackie at St. James in 2009 when that huge steam locomotive called Challenger stayed for the night. Blackie was just hanging out admiring the engine. We started talking in the dark, my husband, daughter, her friend and I with Blackie. What a nice person and so fun to talk to ! So glad we bought a book from him too. We will treasure it even more so now. Our deepest sympathies to all of Blackie’s family and friends.
RIP Iowa Blackie I’ll miss your smiling face and great conversations we’ve had.
I met Iowa Blackie in Britt Iowa in 1990. And saw him every year since. He will be missed. Blackie, you are riding the West Bound. Hold on tight. It’s powered by a Chicago Great Western 4-8-4 Northern. I’ll see you at the next station. Redbird Express Fellow Hobo King.
Rest in Peace, Iowa Blackie. Britt will never be the same without you. You will be greatly missed.
Our deepest sympathy to the family & friends of Iowa Blackie. R.I.P our hobo friend.
I parked my bike right next to Blackie twice in 2010. We met at the State Hog Rally and again at the State Line Rally. I bought his book of Poetry which I dearly love reading. We sat together in Church at the Christian Biker Service. He not only was a true Hobo but was also a true Biker. He will be miss by both.
God’s Peace… Iowa ‘Blackie’ would stop into our store Kephart’s Music Center in Decorah, Iowa at least once or twice a year and always leave his card in our bathroom and a page of his poetry on a table or counter. We will miss his visits. My family also bumped into him in Duluth, Minnesota at the train museum! RIP… Your friends at Kephart’s Music Center.
R.I.P. Iowa Blackie. We’re going to miss you on Ragbrai XXXIX, my friend.
You will be missed my friend My prayers go out to your family Half Track
I got to visit Iowa Blackie 3 times, the first in Marquette, Iowa and the last at a Mcdonalds in Waterloo, Iowa. He did march to a different beat. Every so often, he would send me a postcard. I hope he is riding the big steel rails in heaven.
he was a good man and i like to talk to him
Rick Gage was my neighbor throughout the 1960’s. His dad and my dad were fishing buddies. I knew him pretty well and will miss him now that he is gone. Rick was the original ‘rebel.’ He had a motorcycle waay back before they were cool. He was an eccentric and suffered some isolation and bullying for being different. Living right next door, I knew of many of his exploits. One night he decided to run away from home, so he left his second story bedroom, went downstairs to the garage, got a ladder and put it up to his second story window, went back in the house, went upstairs, climbed out the window and went down the ladder…to run away from home. How cool is that? Some of you from NHHS will remember when he climbed the gymnasium rope all the way to the top, and then continued on into the rafters, refusing to come down for hours! I can still hear Rupert yelling at him. Goodbye old friend. I hope all the hobos in Iowa show up at your memorial.
I’ll miss our visits in New Hampton on the way to Britt. Your ride will always be safe now.
A man who has touched many peoples lives and who will be missed by all. He spent every moment he could writing down his thoughts in those little books. And sharing his knowledge with everyone who took the time to visit with him. Now your days will be filled with warm sunny rides and all the cheese sticks you want. Blackie for President- you got my vote.RIP Blackie
The best to a friend since the 3rd grade.
Blackie never stopped surprising me, from the first time I saw him back in the 70’s crawl out from under a warehouse in New Hampton to the announcement of his death on the 6:00 news. He slept under that warehouse, later I learned New Hampton was his hometown (why didn’t he sleep at home). What he ate or won’t eat, then years later what he did eat. No shoes year round they say, then boots. Then a poet, home owner, rode a motorcycle. You never knew when you would see him next, maybe the next passing freight. You will be missed by so many. Thank You Blackie
we will all miss your many stories and your frindly ways
We met Iowa Blackie once. He was a kind soul.
Blackie was one of the first True Hobo my daughter and I met and to this day she still talks of him with fond memories you storys and friendship will be missed at Britt my friend
your times together on the road trips across the midwest will always of good times. though the rails were your home, The Lincoln highway was your friend. Save me a spot around the camp fire in the Big rock candy mountains my friend.
Rest in peace my brother, I will always remember you telling me you can take my pic if you buy one of my books then he’d smile so sweetie and of course I bought one of his great books, went to sleep tonight reading one. Will miss you my friend.
I will certainly cherish the memory of Iowa Blackie, at true Iowa original. I was the volunteer at the Iowa City shelter who helped Blackie publish his first book of poetry. It meant a lot to him to be a published poet.
You are among peace with your hobo family who welcomed you home. Thank you for your friendship and being a good ambassador as a National Hobo King. Mama Jo
Blackie, you will be missed. My thoughts are with the family. James Duff Boone, IA
Saddened by loss tonight. Rest in peace.
Blackie, Thinking of you on your latest catchout.
He would come to Charles City and be at mc donalds or the uptown cafe when it was open or he’d be in front of the post office on his harley sportster and me on mine and we would visit sometimes about his doings. I remember his grandfather Hans Wolfers and we would talk about that too. He was everywhere, even seen him at the train staion in La Crosse while we were waiting for a steamer to come through…I guess I’ll miss him too. dave scrimger , charles city
We live in a Northern suburb of Minneapolis. My wife worked downtown, and I remember it was Fall. She ran into Blackie on her lunch, and called me to see if he could be a dinner guest that night, and have him stay over. She had never done such a thing before, but I agreed, and he told Blackie that wouild meet him DT and pick him up. I met him on the Nicollet Mall. He had a HUGE dufflebag. I went to pick it up, and I saw him smile. It weighed easily 150 lbs!!!.. I dragged it into the truck, and had to ask him what was in there!!! IT was stuffed with his daily writings…ALL PAPER!!! He was a fun guest, and our son really took a liking to him. Years later, I was repainting the bathroom, and removed the mirror off of the wall. There were dozens of ‘VOTE FOR IOWA BLACKIE’ strips of paper behind the mirror, We all had a good laugh! RIP IB!
Rickie you will sure be missed, no more watching you chug along in the snow with your bike, no more greetings at the post office in the morning, and no more IA Blackie cards sticking on the signs. Hope you are enjoying your last ride home.
Laundry day – ugh. Need a better attitude – need lots of quarters. Spending the entire time there visiting with Iowa Blackie – priceless! One of a kind.
rest in peace from your friend Jump Off John
I am proud to call you a friend. Never missed a chance to stop and talk to you…..around town or out on the highway. May your wandering soul rest in peace.
Rick, you always enlightened us at the ODR with your tidbits of railroad history presented in a way only you could orate. Will miss your summer visits to Oelwein. A true Iowa legend in our time.
Our prayers are with Iowa Blackies famlly. He was truly a one of a kind. We will miss seeing him siitting in front of the Hobo Museum, with his large back pack by his side over Hobo Days.
Goodbye glorious Hobo. Would that we all follow our true dreams as you have. Went to School with Rick in mid 1960’s Hampton Iowa. Picked him up hitch-hiking around Iowa over a couple decades. Heard of his exploits at a party near Chicago and saw news of his coronation, so very appropriatly, on the side of a train car in Wisconsin. Our cold winter is even colder with the news of your passing, Iowa Poet Blackie.
hello my friend,your time was so short….i am blessed to have met you an read the wonder of your heart that I will always hold close to my heart ,the Angels shall trully enjoy such a kind spirit an I know that your soul has touched the lives of so many an will continue to touch our lives through generations to come,whenever we see the trains,we will always see ur spirit ride with….I leave you with my favorite piece of ur book from Sept.9,95…My Love for you shall long endure,for its deep and very true,my longing heart it shall inure the love I feel for only you.Please understand the love i feel an never for me shall it fade,for I know certain it is real of which such lovely dreams are made…carry on my friend i love you………
i’m so sorry for your lost he was a great man i enjoyed listening to him when he came too boone and i have read some of his poems he will be greatlymissed and now hes up in heaven where alll the other angels meet hes looking down upon as we speak for as he’s up in heaven he’ll ‘hear each one of us cry. for he’ll sent tears of teardrops to us to let us knw he’s okay
R.I.P. I remember when i met this kind man. I was at the New Hampton laundry mat with my mom and she asked him how he was, and he said he was felling pretty good that day. we sat as he told some stories on where he had been and the people he had met. he also had a black book with all kinds poems and quotes. I found him to be an interesting person. Iowa Blackie you and your stories will be sorely missed by all.
Blackie often attended our church and sold his poems during coffee fellowship. I also heard him speak to our DAR group. Iowa Blackie will be missed!
I met and visited with Iowa Blackie four times -once in Cedar Rapids and 3 times in Marshalltown. I allways talked about him in the folklore class I taught at Marshalltown Community College. He will be missed but his spirit lives on.
Blackie you will be missed.
Iowa Blackie, I will miss seeing you here in Oelwein and chating with you.Rest In Peace.
Ride in peace, man. It was good meeting you a few months ago and you’ve been a huge inspiration on me. Thanks for everything.
Since I moved back to NH in 2005, I have had many conversations with Rick whom I remember from HS. He is indeed an icon who was ignored and cast off as a wierdo. It’s too bad that we ignored his interesting life and accomplishments.
Rest in peace. I met you when I was 18 working at the depot.
i’ll miss our conversations every morning in the mat about current events. He also knew the history of New Hampton like no one else. rip Rick
Ill miss the many visits I had with you over the years Blackie. R.I.P friend.
The guy we knew in Boone, as Blackie will be greatly missed. He truely had a unique perspective on the world around him and the issues of the day. May the light of the Lord shine on you always. ssr
Hobo Days in Britt Iowa just won’t be the same without Iowa Blackie. Niether will Cannonball days in Mason city he was there in the last few years dancing like he was a teen. He will certainly be missed. Rest in Peace and ride the last rail Iowa Blackie.
R.I.P. old friend.
My thoughts and prayers are with the many people who knew and loved Rick. I hope he knew that there were MANY people who thought highly of him. For most of his life Rick was a square peg living in a world of round holes. Well, now Rick will have a square hole that fits him well – for awhile. We can thank God for giving Rick to us to know and love.
Blackie will be truly missed in Boone and Ogden. He was a unique, fascinating man.
you were one of my favorites
Blackie was a legend in northeast Iowa. I would smile as I would go into a men’s room somewhere in this part of the state and see his ‘Vote for Iowa Blackie’ papers posted. He certainly marched to the beat of his own drum. Anyone who took the time to visit with Blackie saw a man who was informed about his world. The stories about Blackie will go far into the future, not only here in New Hampton, but all around. RIP Blackie.
blackie rp buddy i will miss you ,all the rides i gave you to britt for hobo days seeyou in heaven
Gone but never to be forgotten, I will always remember the years back at the old Kum N Go store in New Hampton and all our visits. I loved reading your poems. Rachelle Bobenmoyer New Hampton, Iowa 50659
Rick, you will be greatly missed by many. Your poems and stories will live on in our hearts. May your journey on the rails into the Heavens be wonderful. Rest in peace, my friend.
Blackie, You will be sorely missed at the convention at Britt. You were and always will be in our minds and hearts. We, Sue and I certainly enjoyed our many talks with you and enjoyed your return the jungle in 2010. Our kids will be the better for having met you! Enjoy being able to ride any rail anytime and please write more poetry from above. GOD BLESS!
Iowa Blackie…you will be missed but hopefully no more Iowa winters and you can ride the rails up in heaven now and write some more poetry.
peace be with you–you and your writings will live on.
Deepest condolences to the family and friends of Iowa Blackie from the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. May his poetry live on. God speed.
I wiss surely miss you!! Peace be to you.
Iowa Blackie will be missed by everyone from Britt. He was a familar site every Hobo Day.l His family has my sympathies.
We will miss seeing Iowa Blackie around town on his bike and his Harley. He always said hi and was never at a loss for words. Now he’s riding the rails in the sky. Farewell.
Rick, we love ya man! You were real, one of a kind. I arranged for Rick in 72′ to ride back from Washington DC anti-Vietnam War/ Nixon protest to Chicago on a chartered SDS/ Yippie bus we had organized, found Rick on the street in DC. We had gone to College together. Truly a unique little tramp. He’s still out there tonight under a train trestle.Jack Kerouac & Jack London now have a new riding companian. peace, my old friend. t. mason
You will be missed by ABATE of Iowa, District 25.
Iowa Blackie you will truely be missed by many…Will miss seeing you at Cedar River Harley hangin with the riders..God Rest Your Soul. Randy and Barb Kellogg
Will miss you Blakie