Obituary of Richard "Dick" Marshall

Richard Allen Marshall, known as Dick to his family and friends, was born on September 22, 1930, in Danville, Illinois, to Simon and Bertha Marshall. Dick had 4 older siblings; Robert, Doris, Mildred, Jack, and a younger brother, Larry. Dick spent years in Hinsdale and later Chicago where he met Therese Cichon. Dick married Therese on May 20, 1950, and lived in a small basement apartment. One year later their family began with the arrival of their first child, Linda. Later Gail and Daniel arrived completing their family. Dick worked as a police officer for the Bridgeview Police Department and purchased his first home in the town. During this time he was also working as a boilermaker and welder. Later, he decided to become a welder full time and his career was set. He sold the Bridgeview home and moved into a new home in Chicago. In 1963 an opportunity arose to move to California. He packed up the family and dog, Pepe, into a 1959 pink Cadillac with a U-Haul trailer attached and the family headed west on Route 66. Within a few weeks a home was purchased in Orange where he made sure his promise of a swimming pool was installed. In 1976, with their children out of the home, Dick and Therese purchased land in Doniphan, Missouri, to be closer to Therese's mother and father, Frank and Helen Cichon. A house and shop was built on several acres and a pond was stocked with catfish, blue gill and wide mouth bass. Dick spent many hours in his shop welding his boats and farm equipment. Once a woman brought him her favorite cast iron frying pan that was damaged which he returned to her in perfect shape to her delight. As he said, "I can weld a donkey's ass to a barn door". Dick had a very creative side and in his spare time he designed ornamental iron work and stained glass windows; many that remain in his former Doniphan home. Dick and Therese met many friends in Doniphan and spent hours on the Current River boating. Their love of the river led them to purchase an A frame cabin that overlooked the river. The steep walk down to the water inspired Dick to make a tram that would ferry you from the cabin to the water in 3 minutes. All who boated or floated by the cabin would always notice his handiwork. During their time in Doniphan their 4 grandsons were born - Richard, Brent, Eric and Evan. All the grandsons spent part of the summers in Missouri with Papa and Nunu. One summer Richard suggested Papa build a treehouse and sent him plans for the project. That's all he needed to start building. The treehouse exceeded everyone's expectation with access to electricity, a front porch, windows, skylight and a crank ladder that all the grandsons enjoyed over the years. Later he fulfilled requests for a swing, a merry-go-round, a basketball hoop and a go cart. The grandsons enjoyed their time in Doniphan with Papa learning to shoot guns, archery, weld, woodwork, fish, spending time on the river floating, boating and nightly firework shows. After the death of Therese in 1997, Dick eventually decided to move to Arkansas. His first home was in Henderson with a spectacular view overlooking Norfolk Lake. Dick purchased a houseboat to spend time on the lake fishing and just relaxing. In the summer the grandsons enjoyed jumping from the top deck of the houseboat into the lake. Dick also enjoyed playing his harmonica with various people that played music for enjoyment in Mountain Home. Later he moved into a smaller home a few miles away in Mountain Home. It was Dick's wish to return to Doniphan, Missouri, to be laid to rest at St. Benedict's Pulaski Cemetery next to his wife, Therese. The tall angel statue Dick placed at Therese's gravesite will now look over both of them. Dick is survived by his three children, Linda Campbell (Patrick Rogers), Gail Harder (Gordon Harder), Daniel Marshall, his grandsons, Richard Marshall, Brent Campbell, Eric Harder, Evan Harder and his brother, Robert Marshall. Visitation will begin Saturday morning, October 22, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. in the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan. The funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m. at St. Benedict's Catholic Church. Burial will be in St. Benedict's Pulaski Cemetery. "I can fix anything but a broken heart". - Dick Marshall