Obituary for Richard F. Data

He is survived by his wife Lily Joy Data, brother Stanley (Karen) Data, sister Maria (Steven) Vaslef, nephews Alex and David Vaslef, step-son Michael Joy, step-daughter Anne (Michael) Joy-Pesavento, dearest friend of 60 years Jim (Kathy) Szeszol and many cousins and friends in Iowa, Chicago and around the country.

Rich was a St. Rita, H.S. Chicago grad in 1967 and attended Chicago Teachers college until he entered the Army serving 1970-1972, in the Army Corp of Engineers Co C, 802d Engr Bn-Construction. He returned to work full-time with his college student days employer Central Steel & Wire Company until his retirement in 2010.

He earned the nick-names "Micron Eye" and "Da-Fish" at Central Steel and left Chicago to begin his "Fisherman" life in New Albin. Richard's passions in life were hunting, fishing and woodworking. He crafted beautiful large and smaller pieces of furniture for his home and custom jewelry boxes. Also, together with his late father Stanley, family members were presented with their custom Grandfather clocks. He recently decked out his boat with a state-of-the-art trolling motor and was looking forward to the new fishing season. He will be dearly missed by all in his family and his many friends in New Albin, Chicago and from around the country.

Richard's wishes for a private final disposition were pre-arranged and are being handled by Fredrickson Funeral Homes and Crematory, La Crosse, WI.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 A.M. - Saturday, June 24, 2023 at Holy Family of the Bluffs, St. Joseph's Catholic Church in New Albin, IA. Following Mass, Military Honors will be rendered by the New Albin VFW and American Legion. A time of fellowship and luncheon will take place in the lower level of St. Joseph's Catholic Church after Military Honors.