Richard B. "Dick" Woerle

Richard "Dick" Woerle, age 92, of Brule, Wisconsin, died Saturday, February 28th, 2026, at Dove Healthcare. He was born on May 6, 1933, in Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin, to William and Esther (Jodell) Woerle.

After graduating from Iron River High School in 1951, Dick worked on the Great Lakes iron ore boats as a deckhand, hauling ore from Duluth to mostly the Ohio ports. As he often said, he never did get his sea legs.

He then served his country in the United States Air Force during the ending years of the Korean Conflict, operating and maintaining radar early warning systems, Link Trainers, and flight simulators. He also served in the Ohio Active Reserve for a time and was discharged from the Regular Air Force to the Inactive Reserve with the rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT) in 1960.

Dick worked in the scale industry for over 40 years, beginning with Exact Weight Scales of Columbus, Ohio, where he progressed from manufacturing into national service technician work, installing, servicing, and troubleshooting many large systems across the United States, Canada, and Central America. After many years, he joined Kennedy Scales of Minneapolis, which gave him the chance to be closer to home, where he remained until retirement. Even after retiring, Dick continued building and servicing weighing systems for the wild rice and nut industries. He greatly enjoyed his work.

Dick married Marilyn Lutz Gaustad on July 31, 1993, and they celebrated 32 years of marriage.

He was baptized at Brule Presbyterian Church and was a member there in his early years. He was also a member of American Legion Post 506 in Iron River, Wisconsin.

Dick was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, four-wheeling, and watching wildlife. He also enjoyed playing the spoons and inventing creative projects such as building wildlife feeders, bird feeders, and even a "trash can bass". He always enjoyed improving and tinkering with his creations.

He is preceded in death by his first wife, Opal, his parents; brothers William and Daryl Worele; and his wife Marilyn Woerle.

Dick is survived by his two stepsons, Steven Lutz of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Peter Gaustad of Glenwood City, Wisconsin; three grandchildren, Parker, Bennett, and Isabella Gaustad; and one sister, Dorothy (Richard) Spiller of Fifield, Wisconsin; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, March 9, 2026, at Brule Presbyterian Church in Brule, Wisconsin, and will continue until the 12:00 p.m. funeral service, officiated by Rev. Dr. Lindsay Biddle.

A luncheon will follow the service at the church.

Burial will take place in the spring at Pine Ridge Cemetery in Brule. Military honors will be accorded by the Richard I. Bong American Legion Post 435 in honor of Richard's service to his country.