Richard Cameron Ackley

Richard Cameron Ackley, 83, of Columbia City, Indiana passed away Sunday, September 29, 2024, at Parkview Whitley Hospital. Born March 20, 1941, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, he was a son of the late Duncan and Margaret (Wilson) Ackley.
He graduated from Central High School in Kalamazoo, Michigan with the Class of 1959. He attended Western Michigan University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1963, and the University of Michigan, attaining a Master of Arts degree in anthropology in 1965. Rich was a professor at the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point for 35 years. He taught anthropology from 1967 until 1980 and then retrained in computer science, which he taught until he retired in 2002.
On January 9, 1988, he married Katherine Mitchell.
Rich was an avid woodworker in his home workshop. His particular interest was model ship building and fine tool work, but he built a wide variety of household items and small buildings on his land. He enjoyed international travel and annually made trips to England and other countries. He and his wife Kathy were twice leaders of a semester abroad program in London.
Rich also very much enjoyed gardening, not only vegetables but flowers and trees. He read widely with many interests including medieval deserted villages and monasteries, ships and ship building, anthropology, history, and culture. He had a special talent for beer brewing, creating his own formula that was widely popular among his friends.
Rich is survived by his wife, Kathy Ackley; children, Robin (Terry) Ackley-Fay and Jon Ackley; stepchildren, Heather Schilling, Laurel (Gianni) Yahi, and Jeremy (Jenni) White; six grandchildren; and brother, Stuart (Kandy) Ackley. Rich was also preceded in death by granddaughter, Elizabeth Schilling.
The family will be holding private services. Memorial donations may be given in memory to UWSP Foundation Endowment Account #3583 International Programs Endowment, https://give.uwsp.edu/foundation or to the Elizabeth Schilling Adjust Your Sails Foundation for brain cancer research, www.adjustyoursailsinc.com.
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