Richard (Dick) J. Dodge, 86, of Shawano, passed away unexpectedly on July 17, 2023. Dick was born on April 17, 1937, in Shawano, the son of Sherburn and Jeanette (Krietzer) Dodge. He was a lifelong resident of Shawano having attended Sacred Heart Catholic School and Shawano High School. Dick graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1959 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance. Dick married his best friend and soulmate Sandra Jeanne “Sandy” Stuewer on Oct. 24, 1959, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Shawano.
Upon graduation, Dick embarked on his working career in the finance industry. He worked at Wisconsin Finance Corporation as assistant vice president and controller; the Eldorado Corp. as secretary-treasurer; Grosskopf Oil, Inc. as secretary-treasurer and part owner; Gary Matz CPAs as office manager; and Shawano Medical Center. He retired in 1997 from Shawano Medical Center as its chief financial officer. Dick was proud to have passed the test to be an IRS Enrolled Agent.
Dick was active in the Kiwanis Club, Shawano Club (previous treasurer), Shawano Gun Club (previous treasurer), Rotary Club, Sacred Heart Church (previous trustee and usher), and the Shawano City Housing Authority (board member).
Dick was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing. Most notably, he loved to hunt whitetail deer in and around Shawano and enjoyed the occasional hunting trips out west with his son and grandson for mule deer, elk, and antelope. In his spare time, he also liked to pheasant, turkey, duck, and goose hunt and go fishing in Canada. He was also known for spending time at the Shawano Gun Club target shooting with family and friends.
Dick enjoyed boating and loved to pontoon up and down the Wolf River and on Shawano Lake. He also enjoyed spending time on his deck with family, friends, and a cocktail. This included watching the birds in his many bird feeders, the other wildlife in his yard (including bear, pheasants, racoons, and deer) and the boats going up and down the river. He was a golf fanatic and was an active member at Golden Sands Golf Course in Cecil. Dick had three hole-in-ones during his golf career.
As a UW alumnus, Dick was a loyal Badgers fan and supporter. He was also an avid Packers fan and would attend an occasional home game at Lambeau Field. When not going to the game, he loved to attend pregame tailgate parties with his family and then head home to watch the game on television. Dick also enjoyed trips with his wife to London, Hawaii, Florida, Arizona, and Branson, but always said there was no place like home.
Dick is survived by his daughters Kathy (Bill) LaBrake of Naples, Florida, and Karin Deehring of Green Bay. Dick is also survived by his four grandchildren, Katelyn and Andrew (Emily) Dodge, Alexander and Kristin Deehring; step-grandson, Zachary Michael; and grea- grandsons Leo Richard and Royce William Dodge. He is also survived by his sisters Mary Olfson and Patricia Winton, brothers James (Jeanne) Dodge and Michael (Rosie) Dodge, sister-in-law Bette Heck and numerous nieces and nephews and their children, as well as his special friend and companion Sandy Davel.
Dick was preceded in death by his wife, Sandy; his parents; son, Kevin; brothers-in-law, John Olfson, James Winton, and Richard Heck; and niece, Kim Dodge.
A memorial service for Dick will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Shawano with the Rev. Edward Looney officiating. Visitation will be on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023, from 5-8 p.m. at the Swedberg Funeral Home in Shawano and on Friday at the church from 10:00 am until the time of the service.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.swedbergfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Dodge Family Scholarship Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization, which provides scholarships for post high school education to Shawano Community High School students pursuing a career in business or nursing.
The family wishes to express their thanks to his friends and neighbors. Dick will be greatly missed by his family and all of those who knew him.
www.swedbergfuneralhome.com
Richard John “Dick” Dodge
