Richard D. Thacker Sr.

1938 - 2020

Richard Duane Thacker Sr., 82, of rural Rochester, passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020, at 2:40 a.m., following lengthy battle with cancer.

On February 14, 1938 in Plymouth, he was born to Otis Thacker Sr. and Leona (Cooper) Thacker. He grew up in Bourbon, graduating from Bourbon High School in 1956, where he was a member of the Future Farmers of America and with great pride was a member of the Bourbon Comets' basketball team..

From the time Richard was a small boy, he farmed and raised dairy cattle with his father. Later, they continued the farming and also formed a fertilizer business. Eventually, the farming and fertilizer businesses were sold and Richard went into business with his sons and formed Thacker A/C-Refrigeration and Heating, Inc. He retired from the business in 2000.

Richard loved trapping, hunting, and fishing. No matter how many hours he spent working in the fields or at his business, he would find time to fish and hunt. Almost every summer he and his family spent time fishing in Minnesota or somewhere they could fish.

Richard served in the Army National Guard from October 18, 1960, and was discharged from the national guard on April 10, 1964. On Sept. 30, 1966, he was discharged from the Army Reserves.

Richard married Janice Null on April 9, 1962, in Fairmoun. Janice passed away in July 2005. Then on March 30, 2012, in Rochester, he married Dixie (Stewart) Lingle Thacker.

Richard is survived by his wife, Dixie Thacker; children Richard Thacker Jr. and wife LaVonda Kaye, Sonja McCan and husband Tony, Jon Thacker, and Otis Thacker and wife Bethany; stepchildren Melissa Knepper and husband John, and Shelly Whitaker; 12 grandchildren, Andrew Thacker, Jonathan Thacker and wife Kara, Richard Thacker III, Samantha Mills and husband Kenrick, Jordan Scheetz and wife Alli, Cameron McCan, Kieran McCan, Rueben Thacker, Connor Thacker, Lydia Thacker, Nolan Thacker, and Jaden Thacker; six stepgrandchildren, Chris Holland, Amanda Whitaker, Amy Clark, Allison Allen, Alexia Smith, and Jordan Smith; four great-grandchildren, Andrew, Phoenix, Remi, and Roman; and four stepgreat-grandchildren, Brayson, Halin, Nolan, and James.

He is preceded in death by his parents, wife Janice Thacker, sister Linda Apple and grandson Aaron Thacker.

Friends may visit with the family Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, from 11 a.m-1 p.m. at the Earl-Grossman Funeral Home, 208 N. Michigan St., Argos, Indiana.

Memorial service will follow at 1 p.m. at the funeral home. A private burial will take place at the Bethel Cemetery, Argos.

Arrangements have been entrusted with the Earl-Grossman Funeral Home, Argos.