In memoriam to Brother Knight Richard Allen Saleck
September 2, 1934 to March 15, 2018
Richard was born to Joe and Tillie Saleck the youngest of three sons. Richard was the last of his family to leave this earth after his brothers Bob and Wally passed on.
He grew up on the south side of Minneapolis helping in the family store, a small grocery market. He attended and graduated from South High School in 1952. He captained the varsity
basketball team and managed to have and maintain his own car! Few teenagers can boast of their own car in high school! He tried college for a time, but soon realized that school was “hard†but joining the Navy would be “easyâ€, and much more rewarding for him! So, off he went to serve our great nation at the tail end of the Korean War era. He was an administration clerk /typist and handled a whole bunch of Navy management paperwork. “Dickâ€, his short name, and most popular moniker throughout his life (and was certainly an upgrade from “Pothead†in high school), moved on from the Navy after a three years stint. He quickly found steady work in the sales office of the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad. A true 9 to 5 worker, he gave the company 35 years of outstanding service as a top sales performer and advocate of “customer first†and always with a smile. (And a few bad Pollock jokes every once in a while!) Richard worked 35 years for the same company and “retired†early with an awesome pension. His second career, and probably his most passionate hobby, was as a Craftsmen tool salesman for the local Sears store in Eau Claire. Not much of his paycheck made it home as he merrily collected tool after tool after tool. “A man has to have the right tool for the job!†he would state adamantly. Even if THAT job was the only time THAT tool would be needed the rest of his life!
Ever the good salesman, he convinced Shirley Parrott to marry him. The two spent almost 60 years together and raised seven children in some very glamourous home locations. Minneapolis, Seattle, Portland (OR), and Eau Claire were all places of birth, schooling, coaching, teaching, playing, and huge family life. Sports were center stage for Richard as he was a youth sports coach, referee, umpire, fundraiser, league president, and all-around expert on all of it! Everybody listened to Richard talk, but nobody enjoyed listening to what he had to say more than Richard himself. He was active in Toastmasters and was excellent in public speaking. He also commanded the podium as a Song Leader and choir member at every Catholic Church we ever attended. Most recently, and for the longest time, at Immaculate Conception in Eau Claire. Most of us kids remember his talent leading Christmas Carols (trying to lead us was like herding cats) at the annual family get togethers.
Dad enjoyed bowling. His Fred Flintstone approach with the flying left arm and the big right-handed hook still get me smiling to this day. They may have called him “Twinkle Toes†Saleck in the men’s league. He played a bit of golf as a salesman for CNW and introduced us all to the game. He would try to hit the ball as far as Dave, Tom, and Joe but the result would be profanity. He and Shirley enjoyed cards, especially bridge, and would host games at the house often. There was always an icy gin and tonic on the patio or deck in the summers! I will finish with a few “always†and “never(s)†for our grandfather, father, father-in-law, and uncle Richard.
Richard:
...always finished basements.
...always added rooms (or extra house for that matter).
...always built sheds.
...always fixed his own cars.
...always thought that if 1 tool was good, 2 or 3 of the same one was better.
...never compromised.
...never said he was sorry (even if you could tell that he was).
...always expected the best (sometimes even more than your best).
...never missed a game if he could help it.
...always had things his way (after Shirley told him what his way would be).
...never wavered from his convictions.
...always changed his talking points half way through the argument just to keep arguing.
...always steered us kids in a direction.
...never told us if that direction was a good one or not.
...always loved us and we knew it, even if he did not mention that part enough.
We don’t quite know why, we just can’t quite explain it, but gee, we are all gonna miss Richard here on this earth and look forward to seeing him in heaven with Shirley and Sue, and with all family members gone before and presently, who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, who believe in the Holy Spirit as our helper on this earth, and who believe in an all knowing, all powerful God the Father who wants us all to spend eternity with him.
Miss you and Love you Dad.
All are invited for a Memorial Mass for Richard will be held on Monday, May 14, 2018, starting at 9:00 a.m. The service is at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Eau Claire, WI. He will be interred at an informal gathering in Hillside Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN, at approximately 2:00 p.m. the same day.
Chippewa Valley Cremation Services Altoona, is serving the family. |