John “Jack” Richter 1937 – 2024
The Mass of Christian Burial for John “Jack” Richter of Verndale will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Tuesday January 7, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Wadena.
Visitation will be held on Monday from 5:00 until 8:00p.m. at St. Ann’s Parish Hall in Wadena with Prayers at 6 and a Rosary at 7 p.m. Visitation will resume at the church on Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the Mass. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Wadena, Minn..
John was born at home in Wadena, Minn., on February 2, 1937, and passed away at the age of 87 at his home in rural Verndale, Minn., on January 2, 2025, surrounded by family. Compassionate care was provided by his family and Vivie (aka: Knute Nelson) Hospice.
John “Jack” Peter Richter was born to Peter and Margaret (Hopp) Richter and was number eleven of twelve children. He grew up in the Wadena area, went to St. Ann’s Parochial School for eight years, then attended Wadena Public school, graduating with the Class of 1955.
As a senior in high school, Jack worked in the afternoon at Stuntebeck Ford auto dealer for the part-time training program and also worked at Peterson-Biddick. After graduation he continued to work evenings at Peterson-Biddick in the feed and seed department for a year and also helped his dad farm during the day.
In 1956 Jack bought his first tractor, a Ford Jubilee, which he still owns. In the spring of 1958, he purchased a dairy farm west of Verndale and has farmed there ever since. He took a short break from 1966 – 1972 to work in construction in the cities. He commuted with other construction employees from the Wadena area leaving early Monday mornings and returning Friday nights, but his heart was always in farming.
In 1964, Jack married Judy Hahn at St. Frederick’s Catholic Church in Verndale. They were blessed with nine children who were all raised on the dairy farm. His only hobby was farming – talking about farming, listening to farming, reading about farming, and seeing how the neighbors‘ crops were coming along. Jack farmed with his son Brian until 2007 when Jack quit the dairy business. He continued to crop farm and help his sons Brian & Matt wherever needed with field work and harvesting. As his health declined, Jack enjoyed drives in the country to check out the crops or see the latest farm equipment purchased by the surrounding farms. He loved visiting the “boys” farms to check on the crops, see how the harvesting was progressing, and help problem solve equipment breakdowns.
The month of June is known as Dairy Month, however, for Jack, every month was dairy month. He loved his cheese, but nothing was better than ice cream – every day, any time of day, and any flavor. He had a great sense of humor, was quick-witted, and always had a joke to tell. Whenever someone asked why he was called Jack instead of John, he always told them ‘Jack was shorter.’ He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. His Faith in the Lord and Catholic religion was very important to him.
Preceding Jack in death were his parents, Peter and Margaret; brothers: Raymond (Sophie), Robert (Betty), Edmund (Lorraine), James (Virginia), Donald (Margaret), and Arnold; sisters: Eleanor (Louie) Roggenkamp, Mary (Herbert) Lehmkuhl, Jane (Ervin) Weber, Veronica (Warren) Behmen, and Sophie (Robert) Roser.
Jack is survived by Judy, his loving wife of 60 years; children: Michelle Hughes, Moorhead; Brian (Michelle), Verndale; Brenda (Larry) Schwartz, Bloomington; Wendy (Chris) Hardy, Otsego; Melissa (David) Evans, Wadena; Christy (Dean) Evans, Hamel; Lisa (Bert) Meyers, Fargo; Matthew (Jackie Lilleodden) Wadena; Joshua (Kylie), Eau Claire, Wisc.; sister-in-law Carolyn Richter; 19 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Jack’s name may be directed to Vivie Hospice (618 Jefferson St N. Suite 2, Wadena, Minn. 56482).
Arrangements with the Schuller Family Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Wadena, Minn. Online condolences may be left at www.SchullerFamilyFH.com.
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