Richard Edwin Kerl

From my shared experiences with Dick Kerl playing softball, golfing, or at our place of work, he went after everything with great enthusiasm. It was never difficult to tell what was on his mind. Somehow, it's probably the case that the walleyes in Lake Kegonsa are still going to be jumping into his boat, and I sorely wished he would have taught me this trick.

Kerl and I shared a common love/hate for ice fishing rarely hitting the ice without the other just about every weekend during the season. It started every year with a call from him "bad news, just carried up all my ice fishing $### up from the basement" and we'd both lament for a few minutes knowing that winter was setting in. From first ice to some really sketchy late ice at times, both of us at times would have to force the other out of bed on those cold mornings with a wake up call. Without any pre-planning, Saturday morning would roll around and if I didn't call him first, I could expect a call by 8AM. Nearly every single time he would say he had nothing else to do other than watch Deal or No Deal and that always meant it was time to get moving so we could get out and start drilling holes. A LOT of fish hit the topside of the ice during our friendship and rarely did a time go by that we weren't arguing at the end of the day who was keeping the fish and therefore had to clean them. Occasionally he'd agree to take "enough for a sandwich" which meant I was most often the one cleaning fish at the end of the day. But thanks to Kerl, I can now zip through a limit of perch in about 8 minutes flat and probably do it while blindfolded. It was no secret he loved eating walleyes, but I always maintained it was because they were easier to clean than perch. Going to miss those mid winter Saturday morning wake up calls but not cleaning all his fish.

I’ve known Dick for 37 years. He would always remember to call me on my birthday and wished me a happy day. I could never remember his birthday so I asked him One day what his favorite holiday was. His response was January 1. From that point on I decided that was going to be his birthday in my book. When I would call him on January 1 and wish him a happy birthday he would respond, “you were the only one who remembered “. I’ll miss my birthday calls. God speed Dick. I will miss you.

Steve, Brad, and Jennifer: My deepest sympathies for the loss of your brother and uncle. My thoughts and prayers are with you. 💔🙏🏻 Deb Steinich