In Memoriam: Richard E. Hergert
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The TAPPI community is saddened to learn the news that Richard E. Hergert, longtime member of the association, has passed away. He was at home and surrounded by family. Richard had been a TAPPI member from as far back as 1973 and was active in association activities into the late 1990s. Richard was selected to receive the TAPPI Engineering Division Technical Award and Beloit Prize in recognition of his outstanding accomplishments and contributions, which have advanced the industry's technology. The award is accompanied by the Beloit Prize, an honorarium endowed by the Beloit Corp.
Richard E. Hergert was 76 at the time of his passing, a native of of Rockton, Ill, USA, He was born March 13, 1938, in Janesville, Wisconsin, the son of Mr. and Mrs. James B. and Blanche (Fry) Hergert. He graduated from Janesville Senior High School and the University of Wisconsin in Madison. He married the former Marilynn E. Hebb in Beloit, Wisconsin on February 1, 1958.
Richard worked as an engineer for Beloit Corp in the research division, retiring in 1998. He is a former member of: Rockton School Board, having served as President; Rockton Sanitary District Board; Beloit Jaycees; served on the Winnebago County Association for the Blind Board of Directors; TAPPI. Richard enjoyed golfing at the Macktown Golf Course for over 30 years.
He was an avid Wisconsin Badgers fan, enjoyed bowling, woodworking, and the Tuesday Bridge Club. The family wishes to extend a heartfelt thank you to Julie and Nancy at Heartland Hospice, caregivers, Mike, Maya and Eka, special friends, Pat and Delbie Insko for all their tender loving care given to their father.
Survivors include son, Rick (Fran) Hergert of Rockton, Ill.; daughter, Tami Verstraete of Machesney Park; son, Rodger (Deena) Hergert of Rockford; grandchildren, Brandon, Travis (Amy), Preston Hergert, Ryan Drager, Nicholas Verstraete, Tyler and Zachary Hergert; brother, Stanley (Delores) Hergert; sisters, Patricia Hudson and Lillian Arrowood; sister-in-law, Bernie Hebb; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; infant daughter, Susan; brothers, Robert and Eugene Hergert; and sister, Dorothy Burkheimer. All proceeds from his memorial golf tournament were donated to the Rockton Fire Dept. to support the EMS Care for Children program in Rockton in Dick's honor. The program provides stuffed animals to comfort children involved at emergency scenes. It makes a scary situation less frightening for a child to have a comfort item with them.
