Archie J. Richardson
Archie J. Richardson Jr., age 87 of Arkansaw, died Monday, November 7, 2016 at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire with his family by his side.
Archie was born on June 14, 1929 in Arkansaw, he was the son of Archie and Jessie (Coburn) Richardson Sr. Archie grew up in Arkansaw and attended Arkansaw Schools. Archie joined the U.S. Army at the age of 17. He served in Japan and Korea before being Honorably Discharged. Archie then worked on the rail road in Kansas City for six months before joining the U.S. Air Force. While in the Air Force, Archie was stationed in Minneapolis, MN, Okinawa, Japan, Austin, TX and Matagorda Island in the Gulf of Mexico. Archie was Honorably Discharged from the Air Force in 1951 at the age of 22. While on his way home, he met up with his lifelong friend, Paul Hutter at a train station and they returned home together. After returning home, Archie worked at the Ford plant in Minneapolis for four months. Archie married Karen Waldvogel on August 8, 1953 at the Lutheran Church Parsonage in Plum City. After marriage, Archie and Karen lived in “the small house” in Arkansaw, where they started their family. Archie worked for the Durand Creamery for 15 years, Sievwright Construction for 11 years, Harvey Bignell Construction, Glaus Construction (Les Glaus) and Archie also started his own construction company with James Larrabee called AJ Construction. In March of 1959 Archie and Karen moved their family to a farm in the Town of Frankfort where they continued to raise their family and farm. Both Archie and Karen’s passion in farming was their horses and gardening. They had many horses on the farm at all times including Shetlands. In 1975, Archie bought Harold’s Bar in Arkansaw and changed the name to Archie’s, which he and Karen owned and operated for 20 years.
Archie also raced at the Durand race track and was known as the “Roll-over King” because he rolled his car if he wasn’t going to win the race. He enjoyed taking hunting trips to Wyoming with James Waldvogel and Bud Metcalf. Archie volunteered at the Pepin County Senior Center for several years delivering meals on wheels. For over 25 years, Archie and Karen always had the Wednesday Suppers on the farm. Everyone from family, friends and neighbors were invited to join them for a meal and sharing. Over the years, Archie and Karen opened their home to many children who needed a place to stay. Archie was the best father a person could have, he took the time to instill his children to be good parents and friends.
Archie is survived by nine children; Ed (Chris), Brad (LaNita), Randy (Audrey), all of Arkansaw, Rick (Carol), Cindy (Galen) Koller, Brian (Chris), all of Durand, Barry (Sarah) of Arkansaw, Brock (Lucy) of Durand, Jessie (Pam) of Plum City, 29 grandchildren, 41 great grandchildren, two brothers; Dick (Lou) of Pepin and Lyle (Ethel) of Eau Claire, three sisters; Lillian White of Cleveland, OH, Marlys Baskin of Durand and Dayna Rutherford of Baldwin, one brother-in-law; Darrel Poeschel of Neillsville, one sister-in-law; Lois Richardson of Plum City, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, wife; Karen, three grandsons; Jason Alan, Shon Edward and Shannon Bradley Richardson, one great granddaughter; Stella Donna Richardson, two brothers; Bill Richardson and Leslie Richardson, one sister; Myrna Poeschel one sister-in-law; Delores Richardson and two brothers-in-law; Emil White and Jim Rutherford.
Memorial Services will be 6:45 PM Tuesday, November 15, 2016 at the Rhiel Funeral Home in Durand with Rev. Lisa Weaver and Pastor Kevin Hutter officiating. Military Honors will be provided by the Durand American Legion Post #181 of Durand. Visitation will be from 3:00 PM until the time of services at the funeral home on Tuesday. The family would like to invite everyone to time of sharing and a meal at the Arkansaw Community Center in Arkansaw starting at 5:00 PM on Tuesday, November 15, 2016.
Rhiel Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Durand, is serving the family.