Richard Felix (Dick) Jaskowick

A graduate of Howland High School where he was president of his senior class, he attended the University of Cincinnati to study chemical engineering. After a year, he took a break and served three years in the U.S. Marine Corps and then returned to Kent State University, Kent, OH, where he earned a BS degree in Business Administration. It was at Kent State that he met his wife of 62 years, the former Joyce Vivian (Toni) Floden, also of Warren.

Dick started his career in a management-training program with Montgomery Ward. He later was employed in sales by Xerox Corp.; in sales and management with Advance Machine Co., manufacturers of commercial and industrial cleaning equipment, where he reached the rank of Vice President of the Industrial Division; Clarke Division of Cooper Industries, the number one manufacturers of commercial and industrial cleaning equipment, serving as Vice president of International Sales and Marketing; Alfred Karcher, Inc., a German company that is the world’s largest manufacturer of high pressure cleaning equipment, where he was President of the U.S. subsidiary. He wrapped up his business career by owning and operating an Insty-Prints quick printing franchise in Minnesota.

Dick’s hobbies included jigsaw puzzles, gardening, fishing, home maintenance and enhancement, reading the daily newspaper and after retirement in Arizona, volunteering, golf, and having fun dreaming up “experiences” for Toni and their friends. At the top of the list of beautiful gifts he sought out for his wife were glider rides and hot air balloon trips, birthday dinner via helicopter, aerobatics in a WWII Warbird and a “shoot-‘em-up training session” in a small two-seater plane with the U.S. Fighter Squadron.

Dick had a beautiful, resonating deep voice that occasionally came in handy when a speaker lost control of his audience. A word or two seemed to be all that was necessary for the room to quiet almost instantly. He was also fond of showing his appreciation by belting out the word Bravo! at musical performances or sporting events and high school graduations.

He volunteered at the West Valley Food Bank, as a tour guide at Del Webb Hospital in Sun City West, AZ, and served on the Sun Health Foundation Board of Directors. He flew the American flag daily for years, cajoling neighbors to follow suit. Huntley Court in Sun City Grand became known as the cul de sac that was totally united on the subject of flag flying as well as being the “most desirable” location in the community. For the group, he was the spark that started The ‘Hood and 20-some years of monthly outings adding up to more than 150 shared meals and adventures, locally and internationally.

He loved to travel, could boast of visiting every one of the 50 states, and experienced every continent on earth, although he did not “walk on” Antarctica, but rather flew over at a low enough elevation to see the region’s animals. He especially enjoyed an African photo safari and cruising around the Horn of South America during a Force 5 weather encounter.

Survivors include his loving wife, Toni; a son, Daniel R. Jaskowick, Walker, MN; a daughter, Jill (Mike) Kjar of Phoenix, AZ; a daughter Jolene (Bill) Ferrell of Prior Lake, MN; 10 grandsons, Nick Holden, Nathan Holden, Zach Erdman, Mitch Erdman, Jake Erdman, Brian Erdman, Brady Erdman, Justin Jaskowick, Griffin Kjar and Jamison Kjar; one granddaughter, Marissa Jaskowick; and 4 great-grandchildren.

Dick adored his grandchildren and showed his love by teaching and creating experiences expressly designed for each child as they grew and developed their own interests. He truly was a family man, a devoted son and son-in-law, a careful, competent, thorough, determined honest, ethical, spiritually strong and gentle man in every aspect of his life.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25 at St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church, West Bell Rd., Surprise, AZ. Interment will follow at the National Cemetery of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ.