Richard Thomas Porath

Dick was born on December 1, 1931, in West Allis, Wisconsin. After graduating from Don Bosco High School in 1949, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1950 as an E5 Petty Officer, Second Class and saw action in Korea on the Fighter Squadron 54. he was honorably discharged in 1954.

After the Navy, he returned to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he met and married Carol Ann Starkey in 1955 and they were blessed with three children.

He had a career in the pork producing industry and worked for Patrick Cudahy Packing Bros. and Farmland Foods. After retiring he served for several years as Mayor of Lake View, Iowa. One of his proudest accomplishments as Mayor was helping to bring the manufacturing company EVAPCO Inc. to Sac County where it has grown to be one of the County’s largest employers. In 2001, Dick and Carol left the Midwest and settled in the sunshine of Mesa, living at Fountain of the Sun where Dick served as president of the Board for 3 terms.

He was an avid bowler, grateful member of Alcoholics Anonymous, and a proud and loyal Green Bay Packer fan. Later in life his hobbies included wood crafting, stained glass, diamond painting and playing Mexican Train Dominos. He had a great sense of humor and a very kind soul and always left a lasting impression on all of those he met and spent time with.

Dick is survived by his wife, Carol; their daughters, Vicki (Jim) Dietz of Lake Zurich, Illinois, and Cheryl (Dan) Ritter of Des Moines, Iowa; daughter-in-law Rachel Porath, Grinnell, Iowa; sister Ruth Neal, Nashville, Tennessee; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and the many friends he made over the years.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister Marion; and son Brian.

A celebration of Life will be held at Fellowship Square on Thursday, August 31, 2023, at 1:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research https://www.michaeljfox.org/tribute

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mariposagardens.com for the Porath family.