MADISON, Wis. - Richard R. “Dick” Smith, 81, of Madison, Wis., formerly of Mendota, left this world peacefully on June 2, 2018.

A celebration of his life will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Monday, June 11 at Cress Funeral Home, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison, Wis. Mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 12 at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, 401 S. Owen Drive, Madison. Friends may also visit for one hour prior to the mass.

Dick was born Aug. 7, 1936 in Mendota to Archie and Helen (Wells) Smith. He married Shirley McConville on Nov. 14, 1959. 

Survivors include his wife of 58 years; three daughters, Kathy (Jeff) Epping, Diane (Steve) Palmiter and Barbie (Eric) Simons; one son, Rich (Kathy Cantwell) Smith; seven grandchildren, Katie Palmiter (Donnie) James, Colleen Palmiter, Griffin, Kara and Keegan Epping, and Easton and Quinn Smith; two sisters, Ginny (Howard) Schmidt and Martha Smith; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Archie; and one sister, Suzanne.

Dick spent his formative years helping on the family farm. He attended Mendota High School where he participated in football and baseball and was the class president. He graduated in 1954 and entered the U.S. Army serving in Germany for two years. After the service, he married Shirley McConville and they moved to Champaign, where Dick attended the University of Illinois. After earning Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Agronomy from the U of I, they moved their young family to Ames, Iowa where Dick earned his Ph.D. in Agronomy. In 1966, he accepted a position as a research geneticist with USDA with a staff appointment in the Agronomy Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His primary research was with red clover but also included other forage crops. He was an early adopter of cutting-edge technology to propagate forage plants to help advance the dairy industry. During his tenure, he traveled extensively throughout the world gathering plant material, speaking and teaching. He mentored many graduate students around the world and considered them friends as well as students.

Dick loved athletics and was active in youth sports, particularly the Westmorland Youth Hockey Association where he served as president for several years. Later, he served as president and ice scheduler for Dane County Youth Hockey. A die-hard Badger fan, he was a season ticket-holder for football and hockey for more than 40 years. He was also a life-long Chicago Cubs and Bears fan. Away from work, he loved being with family and friends and was always willing to lend a helping hand. Camping trips and annual trips to Waupaca were dear to his heart – and no one started packing the car without him! He was also a story-teller, who loved a good story and a good joke. He was blessed with special “camping” friends who shared the stories (and the jokes) and continue to be held dear.

In his retirement years, his greatest joy was helping his children with various building and remodeling projects. He received tremendous pleasure attending countless athletic events and theatrical performances and was his grandchildren’s biggest fan.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Agrace Hospice, Olbrich Botanical Gardens or a charity of the donor’s choice.

Memories may be shared at www.cressfuneralservice.com.