Richard E. “Dick” Werner
Richard E. “Dick” Werner, 96, of Winamac, went home to be with the Lord and his late wife on Tuesday, Oct. 16. He passed away after a brief illness at St. Vincent’s Hospital on 86th St. in Indianapolis.
Richard was born on Nov. 21, 1921, at home in Winamac to the late Clarence and Margaret (Broadhead) Werner. He graduated from Winamac High School in 1939. Richard served four years in the U.S. Army prior to World War II as a medic. During WWII, he served with the Medical Detachment 1106th Engineer Combat Group 1st Army building bridges. Richard landed on Utah Beach on D-Day and fought in all five campaigns at the Battle of the Bulge. After returning home from his service to our country, he went to work at Kingsbury Ordnance Plant and helped on the family farm. He went on to complete appliance service technician training in Chicago. Richard worked at Kelly’s Hardware and Von Tobel’s in Winamac for 31 years as a service technician.
Richard met the love of his life, Evelyn Strauch, at the Rural Youth Club in Logansport, where he and his late best friends (Richard Dickensheets and Richard O’Connor) spent much of their time socializing. Richard and Evelyn were married on May 29, 1949, at St. James Lutheran Church in Logansport. In 1957, Richard and Evelyn purchased the Tony Moose farm where they raised their family of five children and resided until their deaths. In their retirement years, the couple enjoyed spending time with their snowbird friends in Ft. Myers, Florida, and Bonita Springs, Florida. Evelyn passed away April 25, 2017, just one month short of celebrating 68 years of marriage.
Richard was an active member of St. Luke Lutheran Church in Winamac where he served his church faithfully in many capacities. He was a former member of the Winamac/Eastern Pulaski school boards and the Pulaski County Election Board proudly representing Harrison Township. He was also a former member of Pulaski County REACT.
Richard was a lifelong farmer and enjoyed crop farming and raising livestock. He enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting with his hunting dogs, walking in his woods and watching wildlife. He was an avid ham radio operator (KC9YC) and later in life learned how to text on a cellphone. Richard’s daily hobbies included crossword puzzles, cryptograms and playing on the computer.
Richard was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather. He will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved him.
He is survived by his daughters: Carol [Leonard] Short of Winamac, Cheryl Stout of Kewanna, and Christine [Rod] Ringen of Francesville; sons: Steven [Nancy] Werner of Lafayette, and Stanley [Eleanor] Werner of Waynesboro, Virgina; grandchildren: Michelle [Tim] Bowyer, Lenny Short, Jacob Short, Natalie Shidler, Joe [Gena] Werner, Andrew Werner, Kirsten Whan, Brent [Carrie] Whan, Ashley [Casey] Bradburn, Austin Risner, Jordan [Lisa] Burton, Nicole Burton and Abbriel Ringen; 28 great-grandchildren; one great-great- grandson; brother-in-law Norman Strauch of Logansport; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents Clarence and Margaret (Broadhead) Werner; wife Evelyn (Strauch) Werner; grandson-in-law Jeff Shidler; granddaughter-in-law Kris Werner; brother Robert [Madolynne] Werner; father and mother-in-law Ernest and Carrie (Martin) Strauch; sister-in-law Arma Jean Strauch; and brother-in-law Paul [Eleanor] Strauch.
Visitation was from 4-7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 22, at Frain Mortuary in Winamac, and one hour prior to services at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Winamac on Tuesday. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23, at the church. Pastor Tom Woodley officiated. Burial took place at McKinley Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Winamac. The American Legion and VFW conducted military graveside services.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Luke Lutheran Church.
Online condolences may be offered in the guestbook at www.frainmortuary.com.
(Pulaski County Journal — Oct. 24, 2018)