Richard Gardner Hutchins

Richard "Rick" Gardner Hutchins, age 76, went to be with his Lord on December 5, 2023, at the SSM Health Hospice Home in Monroe, WI, after a brave 3-month battle with brain cancer. He was born February 28, 1947, in Champaign, IL.

Rick lived in Tolono, IL, in his early childhood before moving to Wheaton, IL, where he spent his school-age years and eventually graduated from Wheaton College with a major in Chemistry. Rick attended dental school at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and then served as a dentist in the United States Air Force rising to the rank of Captain. He later founded the Village Green Dental Center in Aurora, IL, serving patients alongside his loyal staff, with his warm personality and meticulous attention to detail.

Rick grew up going to his family's cottage at Piatt Lake in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, forming a deep bond with the lake, its Christian community, and its youth ministry, that lasted his entire lifetime. Over the years Rick enjoyed slalom skiing, sailing, and riding the trails on ATVs or snowmobiles, and could be found serving the lake community by clearing trails, putting up road signs, planning building projects, and making people feel welcome around the lake. Closer to home in the western suburbs of Chicago, Rick found great joy from singing in choirs, including the choir at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church and the Take Note adult mixed choir. Other joys in his life included attending the Indy 500 with his sons, model trains and big trains, and traveling to and experiencing new destinations.

Rick is survived by his wife Judy; his former wife Jan Hutchins-Dewitt and their sons Nathan (Jennifer), Eric (Julie), and Joel; 7 grandchildren, Elise, Evan, and Emma Hutchins, and Ryan, Lucas, Samantha, and Elizabeth Hutchins; mother Jane; sisters Cynthia (William) Koechling and Carol (Daniel) Balow; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and dear friends. Richard was preceded in death by his father Gardner.

A memorial service celebrating Rick's life will be held on Saturday, January 13 at 11am at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, 815 S Washington St, Naperville, IL 60540. A time to greet the family will be available immediately following the service. Livestream details will be forthcoming.

Memorial gifts may be directed to Doe River Gorge Ministries at 220 Doe River Gorge Rd, Hampton, TN 37658; or the Glioblastoma Foundation at P.O. Box 62066, Durham, NC 27715.