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Gerald Richard O’Gara (“Dick) died peacefully and surrounded by family on September 7, 2025, aged 87.
Dick was born at his family farm in Wilton, WI on April 24, 1938 and spent his childhood helping on the farm while going to school, playing baseball, etc. After high school, he joined the Navy as an electronics technician serving on a destroyer (U.S.S. Benner). He was part of a very select group of “Atomic Veterans” that tested nuclear bombs in the Bikini Atolls in the Marshall Islands. He witnessed 29 blasts during this time and the government swore the crew to secrecy until 1996.
After the Navy, he got his Bachelor’s Degree at The University of Wisconsin–La Crosse and had a scholarship to get his Master’s Degree at The University of Houston. He began his teaching career in North Crawford, and then Eau Claire, and finally in New Richmond for his final 25+ years of his career teaching 8th grade science.
He loved watching his kids play youth sports in New Richmond and was known as one of the best little league coaches in the area. His passion for fundamental baseball helped his famed Cardinals and Dodgers win multiple little league titles. He loved telling the stories about those teams for many years after. Through this time, the hockey parent crew became his lifelong friends.
He purchased his father’s farm that had been in the O’Gara family since 1859 in 1990 and began his “retirement” job running a Christmas Tree farm. He planted over 60,000 hardwood and pine trees over the next 20 years and loved his time on that farm. He and his family/friends would also hunt for deer/turkeys, camp, and catch an occasional brook trout in the stream on that farm.
He was an avid sports fan and had Badger football season tickets for many years and attended a couple bowl games along the way including the 1999 Rose Bowl. He cheered on the Packers also in the Fall, but his number one passion was the Chicago Cubs where he listened to games with his father on the radio at the family farm growing up. He finally (at the age of 78) got to see his Cubs win a World Series and he was in attendance for a game at Wrigley Field for that series.
He loved nothing more than his family and those grand kids of his and would spoil them with gifts every time he seen them.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents (Gerald and Lucille), his brother (Roger), and his sister (Kathy). He is survived by his wife Carolyn; sisters Sharon (Joe) and Mary (Jack); three children: Jerry (Trina), Tracy (Todd), and Heather and five grandchildren: Aliyah, Aidan, Alexa, Canaan, and Adrian.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, September 13, 2025 at 12:00 PM at Immaculate Conception Church 151 South Washington Avenue, New Richmond, WI. Visitation will also be on Saturday from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM at the church. An additional celebration of Dick’s Life will be held on Saturday, September 20, 2025 at the American Legion in Wilton, WI with military honors at 12pm followed by a luncheon and visitation until 3 pm. Arrangements are with Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services.
Click here to watch Dick’s service live at 12:00 PM on Saturday
2 Comments
So sorry for the loss if Dick. So many were touched by him, in school, sports, and his communities. My best to Carolyn, Gerry, Honey, and Heather.
Carolyn, Jerry, Tracy, & Heather, My deepest sympathy to you and your families. I enjoyed working with Dick for many years on the second floor of the old middle school building. He was always available to talk to and I enjoyed many of our conversations. I know he loved the farm where he spent a lot of his time. May he Rest in Peace.
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