Richard Charles
Ackerman
Family and friends will gather at All Saints Lutheran Church, 9131 S. Howell Ave., Oak Creek on Wed. July 13, 2022 from 9:30 AM until the time of the Memorial Service at 11:00 AM.
On July 5, 2022, Richard C. Ackerman died following a battle with dementia. He leaves a family grateful for his long life and all the years they were blessed to have him. He leaves behind his loving wife of 65 years, Pat (nee Dory) and lucky children Mike (Renee), Traci (Vic) Seymour, Rob (Mary), Tom (Kerri) and Michelle (Tom) Havas. He was a treasured grandfather to Josh, Jessie (Jake), Shawn (Alyse), Kyle (Bethany), Nick (Courtney), Erica (Sean), Jered (Paige), Samantha, Matthew (Chelsea), Nicholas, Juli and Bethy. He was also great-grandfather to Hannah, Sawyer, Charlotte, Adeline, Raegen, Lilly, Avery, Tessa, Sophia and Cullen.
He was born on September 9, 1933 to Edna and Robert Ackerman of Menomonie, Michigan. He was the youngest of five children. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Bob (Evelyn), Carol (Jim) Pearson, Bette Conrad and Vernon (Ann).
He graduated from Menomonie High School in 1951 and moved to Cudahy shortly thereafter to begin his career at Ladish as a machinist. He joined the Air Force and served with honor from 1952-1956. Upon his return, he resumed his job at Ladish, eventually moving into supervision in 1978 and remained there until his retirement in 1992. He watched every NASA launch avidly, proud of the work Ladish did in providing parts for the Space Program.
Mutual friends introduced he and Pat and they were married on July 27, 1957. They built their home in Oak Creek and raised their five children there. It was a home filled with love and laughter where there was always room for someone to stay for dinner or to come swim.
Pat and Rich had many dear friends that they loved to travel with. They took cruises and traveled to Mexico and Jamaica before finding their true second home in Lake Havasu, Arizona. They were fortunate enough to enjoy 20 years as “snowbirds”. Their Lake Havasu family included both old friends as well as many new friendships they developed. They stopped going in 2015 but those friendships have continued to this day.
Rich was an avid golfer, both in Wisconsin and Arizona. He also enjoyed playing cards with groups in both places. He was fiercely proud of his park-like lawn and always kept his binoculars close at hand to look for deer and other wildlife in the field behind the house.
Family and friends will gather at All Saints Lutheran Church, 9131 S. Howell Ave., Oak Creek on Wed. July 13, 2022 from 9:30 AM until the time of the Memorial Service at 11:00 AM.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Church or the Alzheimer’s Association are greatly appreciated.
He will be greatly missed by all that loved him. We are all better people for having known him.
I have had the honor of knowing Richard and Pat for the past 43 years, I can not say enough about either of them. They are both stellar people. Dick was the first Secretary of All Saints going all the way back to its founding days in the year 1966. His original term expired in the year 1968. He served with some of the finest people in the history of this church family. Truly a founding father. Always a gentleman. Always a smile. Always supportive. Always a real churchman. And oh, how he adored and loved Patricia. How awesome it was to have them worship side-by-side these many years. He is, was, and always will be a blessing for us.
On behalf of everyone here at the Alzheimer’s Association – thank you so much for thinking of us at this time of loss to your family. Memorial donations made in Richard’s name will be put to immediate use serving families and supporting research. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Dave Grams, Executive Director