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Jun
12

Sawatzke, Richard Joseph 58

Richard Joseph Sawatzke, age 58, of Waverly passed away Wednesday, June 11, 2014 following a courageous battle with leukemia.
He was born May 7th, 1956 in Buffalo, MN. He was the son of Robert and Audrey Sawatzke. He was baptized at St. Mary’s Church. Graduated from Howard Lake-Waverly High School in 1974 and completed meat cutting school at Pipestone Technical College.
Dick was an entrepreneur that wore many different hats. Over the years, Dick was a farmer, construction worker, butcher, maintenance manager, property manager, and even a custom fish house designer. Dick proudly built two homes for his immediate family over the years and completed numerous projects for many family and friends. Dick’s talents as a contractor were admired by customers who lent him a lifetime of word-of-mouth advertising that always kept him busy.
Dick enjoyed the outdoors. He especially liked ice fishing, deer hunting, and spending time with family and friends on Freeborn Lake. In recent years, Dick cherished his grandchildren. Times with “Papa” were some of the most important memories of the last five years.
Dick was preceded in death by his father, Bob Sawatzke; mother-in-law and father-in-law Mildred and Clifford Schmieg; and also by an infant brother.
He is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Jan; mother and stepfather Audrey and Marvin Balgaard; daughter and son-in-law Tammy and John Anderson; son Eric; grandchildren Rayna, Gianna, and Grady; siblings and their spouses Joan and Mel Laurence, Dan and Dawn Sawatzke, Chris and Rich Alverson, Doug and Jenell Sawatzke, Dale and Laura Sawatzke, JoEllen and Joel Fasching, Carol and Dan Tongen; brothers-in-law and their spouses Roger and Patty Schmieg, Wayne and Denise Schmieg, and Joel and Sue Schmieg, and many nieces, nephews, and close friends.
Visitation: 4-8 PM on Sunday June 15, Prayer service: 7 PM at St. Mary’s Church in Waverly. A funeral service will be held on Monday, June 16th, 2014 at St. Mary’s Church with visitation at 10 am and mass at 11 am.
Arrangements by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Home.