George J. Richtman
The lights on Lock & Dam #6 dimmed a bit, and the Mississippi River flowed a little slower, Wednesday, March 27, 2024, following the unexpected death of George J. Richtman.
Well known to so many locals of Trempealeau as a loving husband, father, “Papa”, friend, neighbor, fisherman and storyteller, George passed away while docking his boat and retrieving his fishing equipment at the Perrot State Park landing. His father, Ralph Richtman, passed away in similar fashion 52 years earlier.
George has been a resident of beautiful Trempealeau for all of his 77 years. He was born to Ralph and Mollie Richtman, May 4, 1946. George obtained his first fishing license at age nine, beginning his career as a commercial fisherman. Upon graduating from Healy Memorial High School in Trempealeau, he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1964 and honorably discharged eighteen months later. He continued to serve in the U.S. Army Reserve for many years.
George began working for the Corps of Engineers as a laborer at Lock #6 in Trempealeau. He then worked on the Dredge Thompson, first as a deck hand and later as a tender operator. He transitioned to his next position as a survey boat operator before returning to Lock #6 and retiring in 2001.
George was well known for supplying fish for many local restaurants, fish fries, and Trempealeau Catfish Days. He and Pete Ecker were instrumental in initiating the infamous rock skipping contest during the town’s summer celebration. George was honored to be the Citizen of the Year in 1999, as well as the Catfish Days Parade Marshall in 2019. Not all super heroes wear capes. Some, like George, need only a plaid flannel shirt, a Jones style hunting cap, a hooded sweatshirt, and a pair of well-used waders. He may not have been comfortable scaling high buildings, but he did know every inch, turn, and snag of a stretch of the Mississippi from Guttenberg, IA, to Minneapolis, MN. Most locals recognized him from his flat bottom boat, complete with his set line, gill nets or multiple traps and gear. He loved serving as a river guide for the many visiting Indian priests and their friends and sharing his love of the river with them.
George was an active volunteer for countless Trempealeau youth organizations. He took great pride in being a Cub Scout leader for Pack #101, a Little League parent, and an environmental activist who attended and presented for many Trempealeau Elementary Environmental Day celebrations and Perrot State Park presentations. He loved supporting the G-E-T Red Hawks in all sports, as well as those of his beloved grandchildren. He was an avid supporter of Rainbow Riders Therapeutic Horseback Riding Center, where he spent many hours building anything his daughter needed for the horses and riders.
George is survived by his wife, Catherine (Kay) of 53 years; his sons: Chad of Winona, MN, and Michael (Meg) of Mount Pleasant, IA; and his daughter, Krista Bushmaker (Jeremy) of Monmouth, IL. He was also a loving “Papa” to his grandchildren: Caroline, Jacob and Bizzie, all of Mount Pleasant, IA; also survived by one sister, Edith Ziegler, of Ettrick, WI; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
George was preceded in death by his parents; and an infant sister, Barbara.
Visitation will be held Thursday, April 4, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at St. Bartholomew’s Catholic Church in Trempealeau, where a Christian Wake Service will be held at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will also be held at the church, Friday, April 5, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. until the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. Burial with military honors will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in Trempealeau. All family and friends are welcome.
As always, the river will flow on.
Online condolences or memories may be left for George’s family at www.watkowski-mulyck.com.
Watkowski-Mulyck Funeral Home of Winona, MN, is assisting the family with arrangements.
