Richard Emil Duddeck

Richard Duddeck, 90, passed away on November 25th 2024, with his daughter by his side.
Visitation will be from 12:00 pm (Noon) until 1:00 pm on Friday, November 29, 2024 at Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home where full military honors will be rendered by American Legion Post #6 and the Iowa Army National Guard at 1:00 pm. Burial will be at Center Grove Cemetery, Dubuque.
Richard was born in Rastenberg, Germany on September 8, 1934 to Carl and Martha Duddeck. He traveled to the United States at the age of 17. He served in the United States Army as a P4 Paratrooper where he earned his Silver Wings where he was stationed in Germany.
He met and fell in love with Yvonne Burrows, and they married on July 27, 1957. She preceded him in death in 1995.
He worked at Eska, Metz, Klauer Manufacturing, John Deere Dubuque Works, Browns Publishing, and Eagle Window and Door before retiring in 1995. Richard was a proud member of UAW Local 94.
He loved spending his free time working on old cars, among his prized possessions were his 1968 Ford Mustang convertible, and his 1954 Chevy truck. He spent his Thursdays at Graffiti Night, and breakfasts with his car club guys.
Richard was a carpenter and cabinet maker by trade and made special memories with family building things together. He and his family built four houses together, still living in the first house he built.
Above all things, the light of his life were his wife, kids, grandkids, and great grandkids. Spending nearly every day, helping his daughter, Heidi, baby sit her four grandkids in recent years. He was their favorite napping buddy, and proudly fed each new great grandbaby, as he knew that was his job.
Richard is survived by his son, Dick (Annette) Duddeck; and his daughter, Heidi (Chris) Ludescher; four grandchildren, Rick (Jenna) and Rob Duddeck, and Jessica (Matt) Ehlers and Jon (Shannon) Ludescher; and ten great grandchildren, Jordan, Kennedy, Quinn, Sullivan and Reagan Duddeck, Blake, Deklan, Makynlee and Karlee Ehlers, and Wyatt Ludescher.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Yvonne; his parents, Carl and Martha Duddeck; his sister, Anne; his brother and sister-in-law, Gerhard and Ruth Duddeck; nephew, Tom; and niece, Susan.
The family would like to thank Dubuque Fire and Rescue, and Dubuque Police Dept for their help, along with Dr. Sullivan, Dr. Ram, and Dr. Bland for their care of Richard over the years. "Your wings were ready, but our hearts were not" "Auf Wiedersehen"