WWII Veteran Richard Fred Stolt, 87, of Palatine

Richard Fred (Dick) Stolt, 87, of Palatine, passed away Jan. 17.

Memorial visitation will held Wednesday, Jan. 22, from 5 p.m. until the time of the memorial service at 7 p.m. at the Ahlgrim Family Funeral Home, 201 N. Northwest Highway, in Palatine. Interment at Bluff City Cemetery in Elgin will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorials appreciated to the National Parkinson’s Foundation, 200 SE 1st St., Suite 800, Miami, FL, 33131. 

Dick was born on Feb. 13, 1926, in Elgin, to Miriam Stolt (nee Linder) and Fred Stolt.

He graduated from Elgin High School in 1944. In high school, Dick excelled in football, wrestling, track, and swimming, and met his wife to be, Elaine Ann (Suzy) Nish.

After high school, Dick joined the U.S. Navy, serving during WW II in the Pacific Theater for two years until the end of the war and then some. He was honorably discharged and returned to Elgin where he married Suzy on Nov. 6, 1948, at the Church of the Redeemer Episcopal Church.

Dick worked for Illinois Bell Telephone Company his entire 35 year career in the Chicagoland suburbs, reaching the level of Wire Chief. At his job, Dick was very good, a no nonsense but fair boss who loved what he did and most of the people with which he worked.

Dick and Suzy had three children, Randall (Valerie), Sally (Kenneth) Nolen, and Beth (James) Recher. He was a kind and loving husband and father who, with Suzy, ensured that the family had a warm and loving home.

In his 32 year retirement, Dick loved to play golf, work in his shop, fish, build and fly radio controlled airplanes, and even found time to travel with Suzy wintering in Phoenix, Ariz., for 25 years. Dick's favorite little vices included the occasional Budweiser and cigar.

He was preceded in his death by his mother, Miriam Linder Stolt, father, Fred Leslie Stolt, and sisters-in-law, Janet Thornton Nish and Marjorie Jane Nish. He is survived by his wife, three children, granddaughters, Anne Recher, Lisa Recher, grandson, Justin (Tricia) Lechman, brother, Thomas Stolt, brother-in-law Don Nish, sister-in-law, Janet Stolt, and numerous nieces and nephews.