Richard Saxby

Richard Elson Saxby of Chetek Wisconsin passed away on Saturday, August 10, 2013 at his home with his loving family at this side.

Richard was born February 12, 1925 in Stanley, Wisconsin the son of Elson and Gertie (Johnson) Saxby.  He grew up in Northern, Wisconsin.  He joined the Army in May 1943 and served as a Sergeant seeing action in the Philippines, Japan and Korea in WWII and the Korean War. He retired in May 1964 from Fort Carson Colorado. Richard was proud to have served his country. He was recently honored as a WWII veteran at the Bluegill Festival Parade in Birchwood. He is a Lifetime member of VFW Post 10331 Chetek WI.

He met and married Suzuko Azuma in Yokohama Japan during his tour in the Army.

After retiring from the Army they returned to Illinois and he was employed at a power plant. In 1969 the family moved to Chetek where Richard worked as a welder and had lived ever since.  He enjoyed playing horseshoes, pool, bowling, golfing, hunting, fishing, cribbage, shaking dice, dirty clubs with his family, and cheering on his Green Bay Packers.

Richard is survived by his children John (Darla) Saxby, Sun Prairie WI; and Susan (George) Schuller, Osseo MN; one grandson Guy Saxby Osseo MN; one sister Dorothy Fechter Birchwood WI; and many wonderful nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews; special neighbors Bob and Lil Jagminas; and special friends Joe and Gerry Bossany, and Carol & Greg Meisner.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Elson and Gertie Saxby, sisters, Myva Smith and Pauline “Peg” Bemis, brothers, George “Bud” Saxby and Don Dundas and Royal Saxby.

Special thanks to Sherri Retzloff for caring for Richard the last three years. We would also like to thank Heidi Jacobson and her staff at Hands on Homecare and Lakeview Medical Center Hospice.

Funeral Services will be held Friday August 16, 2013 at 11:00 A.M. at Burnham-Ours-Kolstad Family Funeral Home in Chetek Wisconsin. The family will be greeting visitors one hour prior to the service. He will be laid to rest at the Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spooner Wisconsin with full military rites at 1:30 P.M. on Friday.  A celebration of his life will continue at the Caddy Shack in Chetek at 3:00 P.M. on Friday.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lakeview Hospice.

The Burnham-Ours-Kolstad Family Funeral Home of Chetek has been entrusted with arrangements.