Richard J. Mulch

Richard “Dick” Julius Mulch 86 of Sutter, Illinois passed away Friday morning February 26, 2021 at his home in rural Sutter.

Richard was born in Walker Township on the farm purchased by his grandfather, John Mulch, in 1918. He was the son of Julius Mulch and Lena (Roskamp) Mulch. He was baptized and confirmed at Bethany UCC. Richard was united in marriage to Frieda Waite on November 21, 1953 in the parsonage at Bethany UCC in Tioga, IL.

He attended Sutter grade school and graduated from Warsaw High School in 1952. Richard was active in band and track in his high school years.

He joined the Air Force in January 1954. After basic training, he was stationed in Lake Charles, Louisiana and was assigned to Strategic Air Command (SAC) as a Personal Specialist. 

After serving his country, he returned to the home farm in rural Sutter. Richard and his brother, Roger, researched raising hogs on slatted floors. Educators from Iowa State University and University of Illinois observed their experiment. As a result, a forty-stall farrowing house was built in 1961. Two articles were published in the Successful Farming magazine to highlight the technology. In 2018, after 55 years of production in that building, a follow-up article was published in Successful Farming.com. Even in retirement he continued to enjoy spending time on the family farm.

Richard was active in the community. He served on the Warsaw School Board and was Secretary for two years. He was an active member of Bethany UCC serving on the church and cemetery council for many years. He enjoyed ensuring the church grounds were in pristine condition by volunteering time trimming bushes, picking up sticks, and completing tasks that were needed. 

He was an avid outdoorsman, hunting deer, turkey and mushrooms as well as fishing. Many hours of his later years were enjoyed in the garden and yard. Family was an integral part of his life apparent by all the time he spent with loved ones. He took every opportunity to attend his grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s activities and delighted in them coming over for a visit. 

Survivors include his wife, Frieda; two children, Stephen (Delinda) Mulch, Cynthia (Randy) Roskamp; eight grandchildren, Christine (Deane) Morey, Terry (Lori) Roskamp, Jay (Kayla) Roskamp, Sara (Nicholas) Andrew, Angela (Adam) Garrett, Richlyn (Michael) Hoener, Stephani  (Colton) Hardy, Aleetha (Mitchell) Hanks; eleven great-grandchildren; Emma and Josiah Morey, Connor and Carter Roskamp, Koltyn Roskamp, Logan, Evan and Collan Andrew, Justus and Gemma Garrett, Dawson Hardy, and two great-grandchildren, baby Hoener & baby Hardy, on the way; sister-in-laws, Pauline (Waite) Orr and Virginia (Waite) Seals; along with numerous nieces and nephews. 

He was proceeded in death by his father Julius (October 1948), mother Lena (February 1981), brother Roger & sister-in-law Ruby, niece Kathleen Fuller, brother-in-laws Merle Seals, Glen Orr, Donald Waite & his wife Evelyn. Richard was the last surviving first cousin of Gottlieb and Caroline (Meyer) Roskamp family. 

Memorials may be made to Bethany UCC of Tioga, Jensen Woods Camp near Mt. Sterling, IL or Urological Research Foundation for Prostate Cancer Research. 

Richard’s family would like to extend gratitude to Carthage Memorial Hospital staff, nurses and aides at The Lamoine, MDH Hospice, Blessing Hospice, and his caregiver, Jean Roberts, for their compassionate care.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 pm on Friday, March 5, 2021, at Bethany United Church of Christ in Tioga, with burial to follow at the church cemetery. For the safety of those attending, masks will be required. The funeral will be livestreamed on Richard’s obituary page at www.printyfuneralhome.com. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 3 to 7 pm at Printy Funeral Home in Warsaw.

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