Richard "Dick" Thomas Kadlec, 91, of Kokomo, Indiana passed away on Thursday, January 12, 2023 at Bloom at Kokomo. He was born in Chicago, Illinois on February 1, 1931 to Thomas and Mary (Vavrik) Kadlec.
Richard graduated from Hyde Park High School in 1949, he played varsity football and participated in Golden Gloves. He attended Wilson Junior College for two years. He joined the Illinois Air National Guard, was activated into the Air Force, serving in Alaska during the Korean Conflict. He attended Valparaiso Technical Institute , receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Technology. He also attended Indiana University of Kokomo.
He was employed at Delco Radio, later Delco Electronics, in Test Maintenance, then as supervisor of Calibrations and the Standards Lab. Later he was an engineer in Receiving-Inspection, dealing in Quality Control. He was a member of the Kokomo Engineering Society, and the American Society of Quality Control. He retired in 1995 after 40 years.
He loved sailing and hiking, and for many years was a private pilot, receiving an IFR rating, owning a share in Aardvark Aviation, a Piper Cherokee 180. He taught judo classes at the YMCA, YWCA and a local Dojo. He was a long time volunteer at the Grissom Air Museum, and was a regional representative of Common-Cause Indiana. He was a friend of Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Kokomo.
In retirement he was a member of the committee for Well-Head Protection, receiving a citation for his contribution from the Indiana American Water Company, Kokomo. He served as a member of the committee to produce a Development Plan for Kokomo. Under Mayor McKillip he served as a member of the committee to produce a Development Plan for the city of Kokomo, and was a committee member to study and approve the use of totes for Kokomo residential trash removal. He was on the organizing board for the establishment of the K-Gov. channel. He and his wife, Peggy, had traveled extensively including an Amazon River boat tour, the Galapagos Islands, riding on top of a boxcar in South America, biplane ride in Hawaii, a bus tour in Europe and a trip to the Grand Canyon.
He is survived by two daughters: Candice Hill, Portage, Michigan; and Bonnie ("Bud") Jerauld, Port Charlotte, Florida; two sons: Richard (Sandra) Kadlec Jr., Greentown, Indiana; and Ronald (Nancy) Kadlec, Longmont, Colorado; brother-in-law: Richard (Diana Godet) Holler, Berkley, California; nine grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents: Thomas and Mary Kadlec; two brothers: Thomas (Helga) Kadlec and Ronald (Judy) Kadlec; son-in-law: Robert "Pat" Hill; his first wife: Bonnie (Solomon) Kadlec; and his second wife: Dr. Marguerite (Holler) Kadlec.
There will be no public services. Memorial donations may be made to Grissom Air Museum, 100 Hoosier Blvd. Peru, IN, and Common Cause, Indiana, P.O Box 1603, Indianapolis, Indiana 46296.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ellersmortuarywebster.com for the Kadlec family.
