Richard D. “Dick” Hall of Sheboygan Falls, formerly of Oshkosh, passed away Tuesday, May 8, 2018 at Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice. He was 87 years old.
Dick was born July 1, 1930 in Milwaukee, the son of Durward and Louise (nee Schoephoester) Hall. He graduated from Poynette High School in 1948 and went on to earn his B.S. in Conservation and Biology from UW Stevens Point in 1953, and his M.S. in Science from UW Madison in 1973. From 1955-1995, Dick was an educator at Fox Valley Technical College. Over his 40 years there, he developed the original Natural Resources curriculum (1957) and authored the first curriculum for Adult Hunter Education for the State of Wisconsin (1977).
On November 23, 1957, he was united in marriage with Joan Gruse at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Oshkosh. In 1959, the couple purchased the 160 acre property near Poynette later to be known as the Buckridge Tree Farm. It was selected in 1988 as the Wisconsin Tree Farm of the Year. Over the last 60 years, he managed the property for timber and wildlife. He enjoyed projects such as raising shittaki mushrooms and other forestry activities. He spent a great deal of time there with his family and friends.
Dick was a Charter member of the Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association, where he served as President from 1985 – 1987, as well as the Wisconsin Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation where he served on the Board of Directors. After being appointed by Governor Thompson, he served on the Governor’s Counsel on Forest Productivity for several years.
An accomplished writer, he wrote outdoor columns for the Oshkosh Northwestern and the Country Today. He was also a member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America, and published his own book, “The Buckridge Chronicles: Sketches from Oak Ridges and Glacial Valleys” in 2002.
Dick was an active member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Oshkosh, where he served on church counsel and as Church President.
Dick is survived by his wife Joan and their son Douglas Hall of Sheboygan Falls. He is further survived by his grandchildren: Ahren, Spencer and Audrie Hall of Sheboygan, sister Shirley (the late LaVern) Peterson of Sheboygan, sisters-in-law: Barbara (the late Gordon) Rabe, Beverly (Jim) Cahill and Sandra (Robert) Robertson, all of Oshkosh and Sharon (William) Frailing of Portage, MI, nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother Keith Hall.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church,
1206 Ontario Street
in Oshkosh. Pastor Paul Lidtke will officiate. The family will receive visitors at the church on Wednesday from 10:00 – 11:00AM.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the church in Dick’s name.
Ballhorn Chapels is assisting the family with arrangements. Please visit
www.ballhornchapels.com
to sign the guestbook.
