St. Patrick School celebrates “Dick Schilling Day” ...

May 24 of this year, the students and staff at St. Patrick School in Waukon celebrated the life of Richard “Dick” Schilling with a mass honoring his memory. Gratitude was expressed for the legacy he gifted to St. Patrick School, with his generous gift of $132,000 assisting St. Patrick School in continuing its mission and ministry for years to come.

The day consisted of a variety of activities honoring Dick Schilling and the many years he dedicated to writing for the St. Patrick School Scroll newspaper, serving as editor of The Waukon Standard newspaper and writing his own newspaper column, “And Then I Wrote.” Along with displays of photos and other items representing Dick Schilling and his life (such as those pictured in the photo above), there was also a typing contest for the older students, the cooks made dessert from his mom’s St. Patrick Parish cookbook, the students created and wore printer’s hats, some younger students visited the newspaper office where he worked his entire career, and school staff dressed in an era of the past, wearing dresses belonging to his mom that were discovered when cleaning out his home for the auction that generated his donated gift.

“It was a great day for honoring a generous and thoughtful man!” shared St. Patrick School Principal Katie Fahey. “The school will be using the money to purchase a new boiler for the upper building, a new K-6th grade math curriculum series, school safety and technology upgrades.”

Pictured above in the bottom photo at the recent check presentation are Dick Schilling’s cousins, Millie Fink (left) and Phyllis Verdon (right), presenting the donation check to Principal Fahey (center). Submitted photos.