Richard “Dick” Gloudemans passed away on Monday, October 8, 2012 after being diagnosed with cancer just last week.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Church, 511 S. Spring Street in Beaver Dam, on Monday, October 15, 2012 at 11:00 AM. Fr. Michael J. Erwin will officiate. Friends may gather with the family at church on Monday from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
Richard Edward Andrew Gloudemans was born on February 7, 1929 in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin to Andrew and Elfie (Abendroth) Gloudemans. He moved to Appleton with his family and he graduated from Appleton West High School in 1947. Dick began working for the Telephone Company and through work, he came back to Beaver Dam where he met the love of his life, Helen Drexler. They were married in Beaver Dam in 1950 then lived in Appleton and California before settling in Beaver Dam. They raised five children, Charles (Valerie), Thomas (special friend Lil), Joseph (special friend Julie), Lisa (John) Williams, and Chris (Bill) Berger. After 35 years with the Telephone Company, Dick retired. He served as union president of the C.W.A. and was an active member. He volunteered at church in several ways through the years including paper drives, men”s service, Knights of Columbus, and the Big Event. He supported the Apostolate to the Handicapped and attended the services yearly. He enjoyed doing things himself and he could build or fix anything. He had a lifelong love of the outdoors and loved to hunt and fish. He made many trips to Canada along with brother-in-law Carl Ebben (deceased), children, and grandchildren. He was an avid swimmer, ski-jumper, skater and boater. He taught hundreds to water ski and built hydroplanes and ice boats to skim Beaver Dam Lake. Dick was an avid Green Bay Packer fan and also loved to play cribbage with family and friends. He enjoyed his dear friends from card club and bowling. He loved to travel and went to Mexico yearly; he also traveled to Jamaica, California, Florida, the East Coast, and up north for the famous “