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- Richard J. "Rick" Searles passed away on December 31, 2012 at the age of 66.
Rick spent his life taking care of others. He served as a medic for the U.S. Army and was deployed to Vietnam and South Korea during the 1960s. He was honored with a Purple Heart after being shot during the Battle of Dak To in the remote jungle of Vietnam in November of 1967. After his military service, he resided with family members in Santa Rosa, California before settling in Neenah, where he lived for over 40 years.
Rick worked closely with patients struggling with substance abuse and mental health issues on the psychiatric units of Theda Clark Hospital in Neenah and Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh. He retired in 2009. Rick was known by close friends and family members as someone you could count on in good times and bad. He showed deep concern for people in need, and had a sense of humor people loved. Family came first in his life, and he enjoyed cooking and entertaining, spending time with friends, British comedies and traveling. He was a long-time active member of the First United Methodist Church of Neenah and a member of the Appleton VFW.
Survivors include his wife of 42 years Lynn L. (Lamers) Searles of Neenah; his daughter Amy L. DeWeert (husband, Rick DeWeert) of De Pere; and son Jon Searles (partner, Andrew Bellows) of Washington, D.C., and three grandchildren, Lexie, Nathan and Grace DeWeert of De Pere. He is also survived by his brother Preston Searles and sister-in-law Bonita of Waukau; brother Phillip Searles and sister-in-law Cleo of Green Lake; brother Dean Searles of Oshkosh; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his best friend of 45 years, W.A. Davidson of Newport, Arkansas.
Rick is preceded in death by father Richard F. Searles and mother Ruth (Wilkinson) Searles, and mother-in-law Marie C. Lamers and father-in-law Robert J. Lamers. He is also preceded in death by his beloved Aunt Ferne (Wilkinson) Applebee, who helped raise Rick before she succumbed to cancer just prior to his deployment to Vietnam.
The funeral service will be held at 5:00 PM on Friday, January 4, 2013, at the First United Methodist Church, 108 West Doty Ave. in Neenah, with The Rev. Mark Geisthardt officiating. Relatives and friends may call at the church from 3:00 PM until the hour of service. The burial will be private. In lieu of flowers a memorial is being established in Rick's name.
Westgor Funeral Home
205 W. Doty Ave.
Neenah 722-7151
Online condolences:
www.westgorfuneralhomes.com
The family wishes to express deep gratitude to Oncology/Hematology Specialist Dr. Anthony Phillips and his team, the entire staff of the Theda Clark Outpatient Center, and for all of the close friends who were there for Rick with many visits and calls.
Published in Appleton Post-Crescent on January 3, 2013
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1946 - 2012 (66 years)
