Richard J. "Dick" Higgins

Richard J. “Dick” Higgins, 86, of Medford, passed away on Saturday, January 1, 2022 at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee.

A funeral service will be held 11 a.m., Friday, January 7, 2022 at Trinity Lutheran Church with Rev. Ralph Shorey officiating, with military honors provided by the Medford Area Military Honor Guard following. Burial will be at Molitor Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the service at 11 a.m. Friday at the church.

Richard was born November 10, 1935 in the town of Molitor to Sherman and Beulah (Donaldson) Higgins. He attended Pine Tree Grade School and attended Medford High School.

He served in the U.S. Air Force from Nov. 1952, airman 2nd class then served as crew chief and aircraft mechanic until his honorable discharge in 1955.  He then served in active reserve until Nov. 1960.  He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal.

After service, he worked a short time at Harvey Co., then worked as a diesel mechanic for Neuendorf Transportation for 25 years, worked three years at ANR, and then worked for Peterson & Sons for 11 years until his retirement in 1993 also raised beef, pigs and ginseng.

On May 2, 1959, he married Irene Steen at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Medford.  They had one son, Duane “Red” and one daughter, Lisa Jean, and adopted and raised three grandchildren, Hethar, Lucas and Cheyenne, also had grandchildren Crystal, Jason, Jacob, Matt and Benjamin.

Richard was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, the Medford American Legion Post #147, and the Medford Area Military Honor Guard.

He enjoyed repairing and restoring old IH tractors, snowmobiling, gardening, cycle riding, polka dancing, yard work, and going to Red Higgins & Freedom Train concerts. He also loved helping his children, grandchildren and friends, and spending time with his family.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 63 years, Irene; son, Duane “Red” (Lisa Marie) Higgins; siblings, Roger (Faith) Higgins and Florence Hein; brother-in-law, Ervin (Alice) Steen; grandchildren, Crystal (Mike) Schaaf, Jason (Maya) Higgins, Hethar Higgins, Cheyenne (Gary Mayer) Higgins, Lucas (Harley) Higgins, Jacob, Matthew and Benjamin Porter, and Brian Schaaf; great-grandchildren, Riley, Jayce, Charlie, Mariah, Everly, Natalie, Shane, Annalisa, Abree, Lucy, Nani and Kioni; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; Sherman and Beulah Higgins his in-laws, Frank and Frieda Steen; a daughter, Lisa Jean Higgins; brother and sister-in-law, Glen (Lorrie) Higgins, sisters and brothers-in-law, Genevieve (Eugene) Gengler, Marie (Conrad) Nelson, Lorraine (Matt) Gengler, Caroline (Wilfred) Butler; and brother-in-law, Calvin Hein.

Memorials designated at a later date .

Hemer-Pickerign Funeral & Cremation Services of Medford and Rib Lake is serving the family. Online condolences can be left at www.hemerfuneralservice.com.

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