Richard “Dick” Melvin Rozek, age 86, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 27, 2012, with his loving wife Betty at his side. He was born July 25, 1925, in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, the son of Nick and Mary (Novak) Rozek. He lived in Two Rivers until he was 10 years old and then moved to Bellevue in Brown County. He attended Pine Grove School for three years. In 1938, his family moved to a dairy farm in Southern Door County where he lived the remainder of his life.

Dick attended Sturgeon Bay High School and graduated in 1943. In 1947, Dick met Elizabeth (Betty) Jane Felhofer. During 1948 and 1949, they enjoyed riding their Harley motorcycle with the Cherryland Vagabonds. They were married October 22, 1949, at SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Institute, traded in their motorcycle for a Farmall Super-C tractor, and started to farm. Together they raised an outstanding herd of registered Holstein cattle. For their hard work, they received numerous “Top-Ten Herd” awards from Midwest Breeders throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s. In addition to farming, Dick started working in 1951 as a pipe-insulator at the Sturgeon Bay shipyards. He worked at Christy Corp. for 3 years and at Peterson Builders for 25 years.

During their 62-year marriage, Dick and Betty were seldom apart. They enjoyed spending time with their family, working on their farm business, dancing (especially polka and square dancing), and traveling around the United States. He made time for his friends and always had stories or jokes to tell them over a beer. Dick often enjoyed playing sheepshead with his friends. It was a joy for Dick and Betty to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary with loved ones in 2009. In his later years, Dick and Betty joined the Door Car Buffs, an antique car club. Dick was proud of his 1925 Model T Ford; he often reflected on the fact that it was built the year he was born.

Dick was a member of Holy Name of Mary Parish in Maplewood. He was active for many years as a member of the Holy Name Society and as an usher until he had a stroke in 1995. Dick and Betty helped others with physical handicaps by donating an elevator lift to the church in 1998.

Dick will be deeply missed by his wife Betty, three children - daughter Toni Rozek (Mike Cane), Green Bay; sons Roy (Becky) Rozek, Neenah; and Paul (Alice) Rozek, Milwaukee; five grandchildren, Renee (Adam) Bubrozek, Rhonda (Jason) Tongen, Ryan (Brooke) Rozek, Ellen Rozek, Nick Rozek; and one great-granddaughter, Addison Bubrozek; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Rosie Olson, Joyce and Tom Zak, Joseph and Bev Felhofer, Susan and Rod Robinson; many nephews, nieces and friends. He was fond of his border collie, Pepper. Dick was preceded in death by his parents; his in-laws, Joseph and Frances Felhofer; half-brother, Chester; daughter, Valerie Ann; brother-in-law, Donald Olson; niece,Terre Felhofer; and nephew, Dennis Olson.

Friends may call on Friday, June 1, 2012, from 4-8 p.m. at Forbes Funeral Home in Sturgeon Bay, WI, and a prayer service will be held at 7:00 p.m. A funeral mass celebrating Dick’s life will occur at 11:00 a.m on Saturday, June 2, 2012, at Holy Name of Mary Church in Maplewood, WI. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will also be from 9:30–11:00 a.m. at the church on the day of the funeral service.

Richard’s family would like to thank the staffs of Golden Living-Dorchester Nursing Home and Ministry Door County Medical Center, as well as his family physician, Dr. Richard Hogan, for their care and compassion for Richard during these past years.