Richard "Dickie" Wethal

STOUGHTON - Richard “Dickie” Wethal, of Stoughton, Wis., age 83, died peacefully at home on May 11, 2026, from a long battle with various health issues. He was born to Anne (Johnson) and Melfred Wethal in Madison on August 22, 1942. The largest baby born in the hospital that day, he may not have grown tall in stature, but his personality was bigger than life. He grew up in the Transport area and then moved to McFarland where he could be found cruising the streets and hanging at Larry’s Pharmacy. He graduated in 1960 from Monona Grove High School (Go Silver Eagles) and was proud of his alma mater, often sporting Monona Grove blue. On February 22, 1964, he married Dawn Nelson, recently celebrating 62 years together in the original home they built in Stoughton.

Dickie believed in hard work, took pride in every job he took on and was fiercely loyal to his employers. He worked at Eggiman Motors, Oscar Mayer and later the company that came to define him for 30 years, General Motors, a proud member of UAW Local 95. There are two things we always knew: our cars were going to be Chevys and they were going to be blue. Many times, he pulled the Clint Eastwood move, “Get off my driveway with that Toyota/Ford/Dodge!” with our very own friends and family, and then followed it with, “You know I have a GM discount that can save you money,” always proud to try to convert folks to the Bowtie. He was an active participant in the GM Employee Suggestion Program. This allowed him to contribute ideas on how to make things better, with one idea bringing in over $25,000 in award money for its company savings. He wrote numerous emails to GM insisting his ideas were so profound they should gift him a new blue Corvette, visiting the Bowling Green Corvette Plant often to further convince them. Alas, he would have to be happy with his 1969 427 blue Corvette convertible that rumbled down the road. He was curious by nature and a natural innovator, constantly developing new ideas and sending off for patents. Most of them had to do with golf, often what we later called his "Shark Tank" ideas.

After retiring from GM, he worked at Coachman's as a groundskeeper for many years. Here he became part of their small family, still continuing to make suggestions, bossing people and taking pride in his course work. But more importantly he was able to golf, something he enjoyed for years with the Sunday Foursome. He would take Old Blue (his golf cart) and flit anywhere he could jump in. He was very proud of the three hole-in-ones he got at various courses in the area. That was what fueled him until the day his body would only carry him to the 19th hole, so he hung up his clubs and enjoyed a Korbel & 7.

Golf was his passion, but he was an avid sports fan. He attended Stoughton Viking events and was an honorary S Club member. He enjoyed local Home Talent games and cheered on the Badgers, Packers, Yankees and Celtics. He was never an athlete in school, but late in life during his 50s, he decided to start running the Syttende Mai races after practicing for a month to do the Crazy Legs race. The 20-mile route took him from Madison to Stoughton. It was more stressful on the family than him and we yearned for the day they would come out with the right color blue run shirt so he would quit. Thankfully we didn't have to start a petition, as the running retirement finally happened after 15 years.

Dickie was beyond impatient, constantly on the go. He never stayed socially anywhere for long. We laughed because we would go to a NASCAR race and we never saw who won, as we'd be a mile out of the track when it ended just to be the first ones out to beat the rush. The only time he seemed to relax was when he started wintering in Fort Myers, Fla. He’d sit on the beach in his Badger Red, jumping at the chance to talk to fellow Wisconsinites. He was also a big kid with a competitive spirit. He loved Christmas so much he’d set the clocks ahead without us knowing so we’d be opening presents at 4 a.m. because he couldn’t wait. We had other traditions, like pumpkin carving and egg dying contests where he always self-proclaimed himself in first place. He was an avid reader, loved to play euchre, thought he was gifted because he was left-handed, was obsessed with the color blue, and always topped off his day with ice cream.

Dickie was preceded in death by his parents; mother and father-in-law, Dick and Arlene Nelson; sisters, Bobbi (Gene) Ehle, Linda (Joe) Everson and Patsy Brugger; and brother-in-law, Sam. He is survived by his wife, Dawn; son, Brian (Lisa) Wethal; daughter, Deb (Jon) Wethal Verch; brother, Lee Wethal; grandchildren, Clay Wethal and Hope (Andrew) Cole; step-grandson, Zach Nordstrom (Shania); great-grandchildren, Noah, Alex and Faith Cole; and numerous beloved nieces and nephews and their spouses and children.

A Celebration of Life will be held at THE STOUGHTON VFW, 200 Veterans Road, Stoughton, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 21, 2026. Please come dressed in your favorite casual blue attire.

It seems surreal to say goodbye, but we know you had a tee time scheduled in heaven and you couldn't wait... you had to go.

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

Gunderson Stoughton
Funeral & Cremation Care
1358 Highway 51 N. @ Jackson St.
(608) 873-4590