MADISON - Richard Dean Basting passed away on Thursday, November 14, 2024. He was born at home in Butler, Wis., in 1944, the fourth of five children. As a young kid his parents decided to move their family from the Village of Butler to a small farm, where he learned to drive a tractor by the age of 6 and found a love for John Deere. He once described himself as just a simple farm boy.

Richard went on to graduate from Hartford High School and enlisted in the United States Army. His military time took him all over, including the bottom of a ship headed to Germany smoking cigarettes packaged in 1943. After three years of active duty, he spent his 20s working on the railroad. In 1968, he started what turned into a 40-year career with the United States Post Office. If you ever needed to know what the zip code was for someplace, he would know right off the top of his head. While working at the Post Office, his need to serve led him back to the Army where he enlisted again in the Army Reserves and served from 1974-1993. He retired from the U.S. Army as First Sergeant with the 84th Division. One of his favorite roles he held while in the Army was Tank Commander. There wasn't a picture of a tank or piece of infantry equipment that dad couldn't name. After his long-awaited retirement from the military and Post Office, he spent the next 10 years working for the Madison Police Department as a crossing guard for a local elementary school where he was cherished for his time with them.

If you asked him, his many accomplishments were nothing, in comparison to marrying the woman of his dreams, Linda, in April of 1974, after dating just a little over a year. Their love story led to four children, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He guided his family with faith, pride and strength. His love of history and learning built a love in all of us to continue learning no matter how old we got. His love and talent for cooking was instilled in all his children as well. All mom had to say was, "Dad's making his spaghetti," and in no time Dad would find his house full of children and grandchildren.

A love of exploring, led to many years' worth of road trips and travels, even making it back to Germany as a tourist. He was an outdoorsman, from hunting and fishing to camping and boating. Teaching his children to hunt and watching them teach the next generation was a joy for him. Soon, it didn't matter if there was a deer seen, only that memories were made.

Richard was preceded in death by his daughter, Sarah; parents, Walter Basting and Emma Basting (Greeley); sisters, Doris Shampo and Betty Lemke; and brother, Walter Basting.

Richard is survived by his wife, Linda (Moritz) Basting; children, Matthew (Jennifer) Basting, Nathaniel (Shaun) Basting and Katherine (Joseph) Ryan; grandchildren, Mackenzie (Nathan), Nicholas, Joycelyn, Chloe, Norah and Joseph; great-grandchildren, Talon and Faelene; sister, Kathy Reinke; along with many nieces and nephews that grew up with their cool Uncle Dick who drove too fast in his '72 Aztec Gold Pontiac LeMans.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. BERNARD CATHOLIC CHURCH, 2450 Atwood Ave., Madison, at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, with military honors to follow. A visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the Mass on Tuesday.

Memorials may be made to the Disabled American Veterans at help.dav.org.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420

Richard Dean Basting

April 03, 1944 - November 14, 2024

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