Obit: Hughes, Richard William (1950 - 2016)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Hazen, Hennemann, Hennessey, Hogan, Hughes, Klimeck, Lutz, Paulson, Pawlik, Prentice, Weisenbeck

----Source: The Star News (Medford, WI) 12/08/2016

Hughes, Richard William “Dick” (26 FEB 1950 - 6 DEC 2016)

Richard William “Dick” Hughes, 66, of Gilman, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016 peacefully, surrounded by his loving family.

Dick was born on Feb. 26, 1950 in Allentown, Pa. to the late Edward and Mildred (Prentice) Hughes. He graduated from Newton High School in New Jersey in 1968. Dick was in the National Honor Society and served as a State FFA officer. He graduated from Delaware Valley College with a BS degree in dairy husbandry in 1973.

He married Nancy Donna Lutz on June 10, 1973 in Mohrsville, Pa. They moved to Wisconsin to pursue a farming career, purchasing a farm north of Thorp, in the Town of Taft, in 1974. Dick enlisted in the US Army in 1978 for three years, and was stationed at Fort Sill, Okla. and in West Germany. He was a field artillery sergeant, decoding nuclear release messages in a Pershing nuclear missile battery. Dick and Nancy then returned to their farm and raised their two sons there. Dick was a favorite at the Thorp Cardinal Frolics Talent Show and will always be remembered for his humorous Elvis impersonation.

After Nancy passed in 1995, Dick continued farming. He had a lifelong love of farming, enjoyed working the land, restoring tractors and his welding projects. On Sept. 9, 2006 he married Sharon (Klimeck) Pawlik and they continued to farm in Gilman, selling their cows in 2012.

In semi-retirement, they enjoyed traveling and spending time with their children and 12 grandchildren (with one more due in February). He enjoyed camping with the family, attending the grandchildren’s games and concerts, hiking and hunting. He was a 4-H shooting sports instructor in Clark County and a leader of the Thorp Pine Valley 4-H club for many years. He was an avid reader, with a strong interest in history. His faith was strong throughout his life, and he was an active member of the United Methodist Church in Thorp. He was always ready to help anybody and had a great sense of humor.

He is survived by his wife, Sharon; sons, Alan (Stephanie) of Pittsville and their children, Bryce and Gavin, and Andy (Sherri) of Thorp and their children, Shawn, Tyler and Lyla; brother, John (Susan) of Essex Junction, Vt.; sister, Susie (Kevin) Hennessey, of Bradford, R.I.; step-children, Jackie (Zach) Hennemann, and their children, Issac and Jacob of Hudson; Carey (Mark) Paulson and their children, Dylan and Kole of River Falls; Jodi (Paul) Weisenbeck and their children Karlie, Bailey and Hallie of Durand; brothers-in-law, Ralph Lutz, of Mohrsville, Pa. and John (Donna) Lutz of Centerport, Pa.; sister-in-law, Janet (Tom) Hogan of Searcy, Ark.; and nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy; parents; in-laws, Donald and Emma Lutz and Adrian “Smokey” and Verna Klimeck.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10 at United Methodist Church in Thorp with Rev. John Hazen officiating. Inurnment will follow in East Thorp Cemetery.

Visitation will be Friday from 4-8 p.m. at the Gilman Funeral Home and one hour prior to services on Saturday at the church.