Richard Lynn Werckle

Richard Lynn Werckle, 77, of Jacksonville, Florida, passed away on May 4, 2019. A “Celebration of Life” will be held at 2:00pm on Monday, May 13 at Beaches Chapel by Hardage-Giddens (1701 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville Beach, FL, 32250) followed by a reception. If you would like to share a memory or send an online condolence, please click the “Add a Memory” button near the bottom of this page. Richard “Dick” Werckle was born on September 8, 1941 in Peoria, Illinois to Winton Earl and Florine Yvonne (Carollo) Werckle. After moving to Rockford, Illinois, he attended East High School and was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, where he met his future wife, Linda Rae Hoss. They were married on February 10, 1962 and made their home in Rockford for the next 39 years. During this period, Dick attended classes at Rock Valley College and was employed by Amerock, a cabinet hardware manufacturer, where he held a number of positions – on the assembly line, in Human Resources, and as a supervisor – until his retirement in 2001. Dick was also an avid antique car enthusiast and, along with his brothers, was a long-time member of the “Rockford-‘A’s” – a classic car club devoted to the Ford Model ‘A.’ He owned two of these beautiful cars – a 1928 Sport Coupe named “Baby” and a 1929 Tudor Sedan named “Abigail.” Dick and Linda moved to Jacksonville, Florida in 2001 to be near their grandchildren. While in Florida, Dick joined the “Jacksonville Model ‘A’s” club and started a small business, “Grandpa Chubby’s,” becoming a purveyor of hot dogs and “Diablo Dills” – spicy pickles that he prepared with his own blend of chili powders that he called “Deadly Dust.” Grandpa Chubby, a.k.a. The Pickle Man, was a connoisseur not only of pickles and hot dogs, but also of hot sauce, olives, hot mustard, and chili. Other interests included gardening, sports, music, and history, but by far his greatest passion was his family. He considered his many friends to be part of his extended family and was often heard repeating, “To me, family is the most important thing in the world.” Dick is survived by his wife Linda Rae (Hoss) Werckle of Jacksonville; children Lynn Marie Collins (Matthew) of Jacksonville and Michael Andrew Werckle (Gregg) of Los Angeles, California; grandchildren Nathan William Snodgrass, Kyle Richard Snodgrass, and Jessica Lauren Collins; sister Jacqueline (Werckle) White of Bonham, Texas; brother W. David Werckle (Sara) of Stillman Valley, Illinois; sister-in-law Patricia Ann (Petzinger) Werckle of Rockford, Illinois; 19 nieces and nephews; four cousins; and his cat “Abby Boo Boo.” He was predeceased by his parents; sister Patricia (Werckle) Zeller; brother Michael Anthony Werckle; stepparents Ralph Steele and Winifred Werckle; his grandparents; aunts and uncles; one cousin; and his dogs, “Princess” and “Snuggles.” The Werckle and Collins families hope that you will join us in celebrating Richard Werckle’s life. Whether you knew him as “Dick,” “Chubby,” “Gus,” or by any of his other many nicknames, please know that he loved you and would want to wish you good health and great happiness.