Obit: Tuff, Richard W. (1943 – 2009)

Contact: Dolores

Surnames: Tuff, Halverson, Stirn, Cowell, Buttke, Bucek, Rogstad, Ahles-Iverson, Fullington, Koxlien, Kwiatkowski, Lien, Rose, Shramek, Benz, Boettcher, Curran, Stevens, Teeples

----Source: Banner Journal (Black River Falls, Jackson Co., WI.) September 16, 2009

Tuff, Richard W. “Dick” (18 February 1943 – 7 September 2009)

Richard W. “Dick” Tuff, 66, of Taylor died Monday, Sept. 7, 2009 at his home.

Dick was born Feb. 18, 1943, in Black River Falls to parents Basil and Esther (Halverson) Tuff.  He grew up in the Taylor area.  Following his graduation from high school, he married Mary Stirn Aug. 22, 1964, in Blair and they later divorced.  He married Cecily Cowell Feb. 10, 1995, in Taylor.

Dick was employed as a semi-truck driver for the Taylor mill and also for Badger Mining in the Taylor area.

He was an outdoor enthusiast, holding a lifetime membership in the Taylor Rod and Gun Club.  He loved to go deer hunting and enjoyed setting up deer camp in northern Wisconsin friends.  Years ago, he liked to go trapping.  In his younger years, he belonged to a local softball league.  He liked to travel and recently visited the state of Alaska.

Richard was an encyclopedia of the Taylor area of Jackson County, easily supplying answers to a wide variety of questions about directions, locations and a host of other details.  He was a hard worker his entire life as well as a very practice al person.  He will also be remembered as a people person, possessing an outgoing personality and a talent for conversation.

Survivors include his wife, Cecily; a stepson, Anthony (special friend Nicole) Buttke of Winona, MN; a daughter, Heidi (Rob) Bucek of Hixton; a stepdaughter, Amanda (Josh) Rogstad of Black River Falls; grandchildren, Hattie, Bennet and Nolan; and step-grandchildren, Easton, Elaine, Christopher and Bryan.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services for Richard W. “Dick” Tuff were held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, at the Trempealeau Valley Lutheran Church with burial in the church cemetery, both rural Taylor.  Reverend Benjamin Ahles-Iverson officiated.  Friends called Saturday from 5 p.m. t o 8 p.m. at the Jensen-Modjeski Funeral Home, Hixton, and also one hour prior to services at the church.

Casketbearers were: Karl Fullington, Brent Koxlien, Ed Kwiatkowski, Andrew Lien, Tim “Buddy” Rose and Dave Shramek.

Honorary bearers were: Gary Benz, Howie Boettcher, John Curran, Mike Fullington, Mike Koxlien, Roger Stevens and John Teeples.