Richard Data

Richard Francis Data, 74, of New Albin was called home to God Friday evening, May 19, 2023, suddenly at home. Rich’s wishes for a private final disposition were pre-arranged and are being handled by Fredrickson Funeral Homes and Crematory, La Crosse, WI.  Celebration of Life Memorials will be held in the future in both New Albin and the Chicago South Suburban Area.

He is survived by his wife, Lily Joy Data; a brother, Stanley (Karen) Data; a sister, Maria (Steven) Vaslef; his nephews, Alex and David Vaslef; his step-son, Michael Joy; his step-daughter, Anne (Michael) Joy-Pesavento; his dearest friend of 60 years, Jim (Kathy) Szeszol; and many cousins and friends in Iowa, Chicago and around the country.

Rich was a St. Rita High School, Chicago graduate in 1967 and attended Chicago Teachers College until he entered the Army, serving 1970-1972 in the Army Corp of Engineers Co. C, 802d Engineer Battalion - Construction. He returned to work full-time with his college student days employer, Central Steel & Wire Company, until his retirement in 2010. He earned the nicknames “Micron Eye” and “Da-Fish” at Central Steel and left Chicago to begin his “Fisherman’s” life in New Albin.

Rich’s passions in life were hunting, fishing and woodworking. He crafted beautiful large and smaller pieces of furniture for his home and custom jewelry boxes. Also, together with his late father, Stanley, family members were presented with their custom grandfather clocks. He recently decked out his boat with a state-of-the-art trolling motor and was looking forward to the new fishing season.

He will be dearly missed by all in his family and his many friends in New Albin, Chicago and from around the country.