Richard Pfahler

Richard Allen Pfahler, “Dick”, age 74, passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack on Monday, July 19, 2021. Dick was born in Madison, WI on March 11, 1947 to the late Donald and Mae Pfahler. His early life was spent in Beaver Dam Wisconsin. His family moved to Madison when he was in 7th grade. He married the love of his life, Sandra Jo Peterson, on August 7, 1972 in Madison.

Dick and Sandy spent the first 42 years of their marriage in Oregon, WI where they made lifelong friends. In 2015 they moved to a Madison westside condo development. Dick fit in so well that they quickly elected him to the condo association board. He had to learn about plants and driveways and decks and roofs and insurance and much more. Those of you who knew Dick well understand that none of this came easy to him, but he always did his best. His neighbors appreciated that he appointed himself the person to move the garbage cans off the street at the end of garbage day.

Dick was a West High School graduate, athlete, and sports fan. In high school, like his older brother Don, Dick played baseball, football and basketball and lettered in all three sports. He was a lifelong fan of the Green Bay Packers and the Wisconsin Badgers. He could talk with anyone at any time about the Packers and Badger football and basketball.

Dick’s passion was cycling. His riding partners became lifelong friends who were willing to ride with him at 5 am. For years he road with Fraboni’s Porketta Pedalers whose main mission was to raise awareness and money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. His biker friends will fondly remember Precious and Salsa.

Dick began working in the financial management field over 40 years ago. Since 2009 he worked at the westside Madison office of RW Baird. He loved working with people to help them gain and keep financial security and was so proud and appreciative that many of his current clients were children and even grandchildren of his original clients. Dick’s relationship with his RW Baird family was a driving force in his choice to never retire.

Dick and Sandy loved traveling together and had many great trips. The trips started with New Orleans in the early 80s and then Tahiti on a shoestring. After Dick learned to scuba dive in the cold waters of Wisconsin several trips were taken to the Caribbean. When bicycling became his passion, they began to travel and enjoy longer trips to Tucson during the winter months. His sister-in- law, Janie, introduced Dick and Sandy to Bodega Bay, CA, wine country, and Hawaii. Their last trip was in June when they spent four days in Iowa to see the Mississippi River Museum and the Field of Dreams.

Dick and Sandy had no children, but they definitely had a family. Dick was a proud, loving, and supportive uncle to his brother Don and sister Jane’s children and their families. He loved when they were all home and could not wait to hear their stories. He knew they loved him too.

Dick is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Sandy; siblings Donald (the late Linda Dawson) Pfahler and Jane (Richard) Hemberger; nieces Madelaine (Chuck Saxon) Pfahler, Jennifer (Brett) Putney, and Emma (Sam) Vincent; nephews Evan (Laura Lee) Pfahler, Matthew (Alyson) Hemberger, and Sam Lundsten (Kaitlin Sherman); and sister-in-law Janie Peterson. He is further survived by his great-nieces and great-nephews, Alystair, Basil, Isabelle, Nicolas, Beatrix, Matilda, Beckett, Brett, and Ellis as well as many friends.

There will be a memorial gathering to celebrate Dick’s life on Wednesday, August 4 at CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 3610 Speedway Rd., Madison, from 3:30-5:30 pm. In lieu of flowers if you wish to make a charitable contribution, The Multiple Sclerosis Society, Best Friends Animal Society, Kanab, Utah, or the American Family Children’s Hospital are three organizations that had special meaning for Dick.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service

3610 Speedway Road  Madison

(608) 238-3434