"Dick" Richard Allen Gifford

 Richard Allen Gifford, age 87, of Blanchardville died peacefully at home on Saturday evening, January 15, 2022. Dick was born on May 11, 1934 in Janesville, Wisconsin to Melvin A. Gifford and Evelyn (Schutt) Gifford. He grew up in Janesville and moved to Blanchardville in 1952, where he graduated from high school in 1953. He served in the U.S. Army, post-Korean War, from 1953 to 1955, and then moved back to Blanchardville. He married Lois Jane Ula on November 10, 1956 at York Memorial Lutheran Church. Dick and Lois lived their entire married life in Blanchardville where they raised three children.

Dick worked at the Blanchardville Feed Mill as a mill worker and the Blanchardville Co-Op Oil as a bulk tank truck driver. He then worked for several years at the Dane County Hospital and Home in Verona until his retirement. He was a member of York Memorial Lutheran Church, a volunteer fireman for the Blanchardville Fire Department for many years, and a proud member of the Dobson-Johnson-Gallagher American Legion Post. He also enjoyed serving as an umpire for high school and home talent baseball games and community fast pitch and slow pitch softball games at McKellar Park for over 30 years.

Dick was an avid hunter and fisherman, and he looked forward to deer hunting every season. Throughout the years, he spent many weekend morning’s rabbit and pheasant hunting with his dogs, Barney, Peaches and Gunner. He was also a huge sports fan and enjoyed watching all sorts of sports both on television and in person. He especially loved to watch and root for the Green Bay Packers, the Milwaukee Brewers and the UW-Madison Badgers’ football and basketball teams. Dick also enjoyed planting his garden every spring, playing cards with family and friends, and going to the casino in Dubuque with his wife, Lois, in his later years. Dick loved all animals and was especially fond of his orange tabby cat, George, who was his companion for over 16 years. He often said that George never, ever did anything wrong and was the best cat in Blanchardville.

Dick taught his children to stand up for themselves and what they believe in, work hard and earn their paychecks, take responsibility for their own actions, always root for the underdog, and treat people on the street who are down and out on their luck with dignity and respect. He was a good father.

Dick is survived by his wife of 65 years, Lois, his three children, Kathy (Jeff) Johnsen of Darlington, Carol Gifford of Syracuse, New York, and Ronald Gifford of Blanchardville, his step-sister, Mary “Tootie” Garvin of Janesville, five grandchildren, Jeremy Vangsness of Rockford, Illinois, Nicole (Andy) Kurth of Blue Mounds, Aaron (Jillian) Gifford of Blanchardville, Ellie (Kyle) Lyne of Blue Mounds, and Ashley (Randall) Freymiller of Waukesha, and eight great-grandchildren, Blake and Emily Vangsness, Dawson, Logan and Adalynn Kurth, Brooke and Quinn Gifford, and Boone Lyne. He was preceded in death by his parents, his step-mother, Jane Gifford Sanderson, his brothers Lyle Gifford and Bobby Gifford, his sister-in-law, Lorraine “Corky” Gifford, his step-brother-in-law, Peter Garvin, and his daughter-in-law, Vicki Gifford.

A visitation for Dick will be held at Blanchard Hall, 204 South Main Street in Blanchardville on Saturday, January 22, 2022 from 10:00 am until the time of a funeral service held at 1:00 pm at Blanchard Hall.  Rev. Jim Droste, Chaplin of the Upland Hills Hospice will officiate.  Burial with graveside funeral honors by the Dobson-Johnson-Gallagher American Legion Post of Blanchardville will follow in the York Memorial Lutheran Church Cemetery in rural Blanchardville. A catered funeral luncheon will be provided by the family back at Blanchard Hall. The family asks that you please wear a mask to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Online memories and condolences may be shared with the family at saetherfuneralservice.com

Dick’s family would like to thank Upland Hills Health Hospice, Inclusa Family Care, and all of his wonderful home healthcare providers, especially Erika Skattum and Kathy Plaskey, who took such great care of him during his last years. Dick thought so very much of them, and they both became his good friends and a part of the family. Their dedication and hard work allowed the family to honor Dick’s wishes to remain at home, which was so important to him and his family.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of "Dick" Richard Allen Gifford, please visit our floral store.