Richard “Dick” W. Wachter, 92, of Asbury, died Friday, December 29, 2023, at Harmony Dubuque.

Visitation will be from 9:00 am until 10:15 am Friday, January 5, 2024 at Church of the Resurrection.

The Mass of Christian Burial for Dick will be 10:30 am Friday, January 5, 2024, at Church of the Resurrection with Father Phil Gibbs as the Celebrant.  Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Dubuque.  Full military honors will be rendered by the American Legion Post #6.

Richard was born October 17, 1931, in Chicago, IL, the son of Francis J. and Edna M. Wachter. On August 20, 1960, he married Janaan E. Latimer at St. Columbkille’s Catholic Church in Dubuque.

He grew up in Chicago and spent two years at the Angel Guardian Orphanage from 1940-1942. In 1943 he attended the Illinois Soldiers and Sailors Children School in Normal, Illinois until he graduated from University High School in 1951. While at the orphan’s home in Normal, he obtained the Eagle Scout Award in 1949.After graduation from high school, he entered the U.S. Navy and served on the USS Agerholm (DD826) during the Korean War as a Quartermaster Signalman. During that war he saw nine months of action overseas in Task Force 77.

In 1954 he entered the University of Iowa in Iowa City and completed his B.S. degree in 1958. The following fall he began his science teaching career at Washington Junior High School in Dubuque until his retirement in 1991. In 1971, he attained his Master’s degree from Northern Illinois University in Science Education. He also spent many summers working at the American Trust Bank as a teller. Later, he spent six years at the Dubuque Greyhound Track as a teller. In 1991 he worked off and on for seven years at the Casino Belle and The Diamond Jo as a cashier.

Dick loved his Iowa Hawkeyes, reading, and the Chicago Cubs. For many years he took fishing trips to Canada with his fellow teachers. He was a member of Church of the Resurrection, and the V.F.W.

Survivors include his wife, Janaan; three children, Nancy (Randy) Freese of Reinbeck, IA, Robert (Joy) Wachter of Marion, IA, and Jeff (Ann) Wachter of Dubuque; eight grandchildren, Christopher (Robyne) Freese, Danielle Freese, Travis Freese, Emma Wachter, Maya Wachter, Dallas (Jonathan) Minor, Donovan Caldwell, and Endira Caldwell; five great-grandchildren, Huxton Freese, Aubrey Freese, Cohen Freese, Crew Freese, and Charlie Minor; and his brothers, William Wachter of Altmonte, FL, and James Wachter of Columbus, OH.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Robert Wachter.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established for Hospice of Dubuque.

Special thank you to Harmony Dubuque, Hospice of Dubuque, Mercy 4 West, and Dr. Sara Loetscher.

Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home and Cremation Service is in care of the arrangements.

Condolences can be sent to the family by visiting Dick’s obituary at www.hskfhcares.com.