Richard “Dick” Vohlken, 75, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Monday, December 2, 2019 at Prairie Lakes Hospital.
Family and friends are requested to meet at the Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel at 10:30 a.m., Friday, December 6, 2019 to process out to the graveside services at 11:00 a.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery in Watertown. Chaplain Byron Callies will officiate. Military honors will be conducted by Codington County Post 17 of the American Legion in Watertown.
A party at the post to celebrate Dick's life will be at 12:00 p.m., Friday, December 6, 2019 at the American Legion.
Urn bearers will be Anita Sande, Devlon Vohlken and Derek Vohlken.
Honorary urn bearers will be Andy Wicks, Monti Kouf, Marty Burkhart and Pat Helle.
Richard “Dick” Vohlken was born March 5, 1944 to Emil and Marion (Koenders) Vohlken in Estelline, SD.
Dick was raised on a farm 8 miles east of Castlewood, SD. He went to school at Oakwood #49. At the start of the 4th grade, his parents gave him a buckskin pony and Dick called him Pal. Dick and Pal finished the 8th grade. In 1958 he went to Castlewood High School, graduating in 1962.
On July 14, 1962 Dick joined the United States Air Force. On completion of his military duty, he returned to Castlewood and started working as a mechanic.
In October of 1970 Dick married the love of his life, Pam Heismeyer, Pam may say this is not true, because he loved drag racing, pickup pulling, and hotrods, especially Studebakers. They moved to Watertown where he started road construction as a mechanic. Dick went to work for the City of Watertown street department. After 24 years there Dick had to retire due to health problems.
Dick was a member of American Legion Post 17. On March 10, 2011 Dick was honored with a life membership for all the work he did at Post 17. He was awarded Codington County Veteran of the year in September of 2019.
Dick was a member of Military Recruiters and Counselors and on November 11, 2011, Dick was honored with a life membership for his work with young men and women that are thinking of joining the military. In the same year, he received the Hans-Dale award for his work with young people. Dick got #15 since they are not awarded each year. Dick was a paid up life member in the 40/8.
Dick is survived by his wife, Pam; his children, Anita (Joe) Sande of Sioux Falls, Devlon (Noel) Vohlken of Rapid City and Derek (Noelle) Vohlken of Watertown and his adopted son, Justin Waltz of Fargo, ND; 11 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; one sister, Delrean Gilligan of DeSmet; brothers-in-law, Marlo Mundahl of Brandt and Gerry (Bea) Heismeyer of Plankton, SD; and his sister-in-law, Roxy Diede of Scotland, SD.
Preceding him in death are his parents, Emil and Marion; his sister, Wanda Mundahl; a brother-in-law, Darrell Gilligan; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Fred and Eleanor Heismeyer; and a brother-in-law, Ray Diede.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to your local post of your choice.
Arrangements by Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel, www.wightandcomes.com.