Richard Charles Averill

Richard (Dick) Charles Averill passed away September 12, 2015 at Presence St. Joseph Hospital in Joliet, IL from lung cancer. He was born December 29, 1931, in Oak Park, IL, to Newton and Hazel (Palmer) Averill and lived his early life in Dundee, IL. He moved to Plymouth, Indiana, as a young boy with his family in 1941. Graduating from Plymouth's Lincoln High School in 1949, he enlisted two years later in the U.S. Air Force. He served his country from 1951-1955 in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Germany. Honorably discharged in 1955, he enrolled in Winona State College in Winona, MN. and graduated in 1959 with a B.A. degree in Business Administration. That is where he met his future wife, Grace Marlene Blau, from Little Rock, IA. Richard and Grace were united in marriage on June 6, 1958, at First Baptist Church in Winona, MN. Dick and Grace were blessed with four children: Lynn, David, Keith and Rebecca and enjoyed them very much. They were also blessed with 12 grandchildren and 2 great grandsons. Following college graduation in 1959, he was employed by Lake Center Switch Co. in Winona, MN, as assistant accountant. With a subsequent transfer to the company's Decorah, IA, plant in 1962, Dick was named Deco Products Company's national sales manager for the company's zinc die casting operations of the Hardware Division. He also served 8 of his working years as sales and marketing manager for TriMark Co. in New Hampton, IA. Returning to Decorah in 1987 and to Deco's employment he retired from Deco in 1997 after 30 years of employment with the company. Dick claimed Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior in 1969. Subsequently he was baptized by immersion and became an active member at Calvary Baptist Church (now Stone Ridge Community Church in Decorah, IA. For the past 3 years, Dick and Grace have been active members of Ridgewood Baptist Church, Joliet, IL, while living in Elwood, IL. Dick loved his four children and their family time and summer camping vacations. He and his wife Grace celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary together with their family and friends in June, 2008. He also enjoyed gardening, landscaping, and cars from the post WWII era. After retiring, he and his wife enjoyed spending some winter months each year in Arizona. Dick was preceded in death by his father Newton Averill in 1949; his mother Hazel, in 1982; his brother Bob Averill in 2014, and two half brothers Kermit and Neil. He is survived by his wife Grace and their four children: Lynn (Nathan) Emmons of Barron, WI; David Averill of Decatur, IN; Keith Averill of Reno, NV; and Rebecca (Douglas) Cherry of New Lenox, IL; 12 grandchildren: Aaron (Misty) Emmons of Comstock Park, MI; Paul Emmons of Barron, WI; Samuel (Sarah) Emmons of Knoxville, TN; Caleb (fiancée Taya Adams); Mason, Rachel and Lauren Averill of Decatur, IN; and Gracie Averill of Reno, NV; Elisa Cherry, Denver, CO; Kyle, Bryan, and Hannah Cherry of New Lenox, IL; 2 great grandsons Andrew and Luke Emmons of Comstock Park, MI. He is also survived by his sister Patricia (Ralph) Kuskye of Plymouth, IN; sister-in-law Martha Averill of Nappanee, IN; and many other family members. A visitation will be held at Kurtz Memorial Chapel, 102 E. Francis Rd. New Lenox, IL 60451 on Wednesday, September 16, 2015 from 4:00PM until 6:00PM with a prayer service at 5:30PM. A visitation will also be held at Stone Ridge Community Church 111 Montgomery St, Decorah, IA 52101 on Friday, September 18, 2015 from 10:00AM until time of funeral service at 11:00AM. Interment will follow to Phelps Cemetery in Decorah, IA.