Richard LeRoy McNall

(1924-2004)

Member #73

Rock River Thresheree Class of 1970

JANESVILLE -- Richard LeRoy McNall was born Dec. 18, 1924, in Gaylord, KS, and passed away Thursday, Jan. 15, 2004, at Mercy Hospital in Janesville. He was one of 11 children born to Webster and Bertha (Heide) McNall. During the dust bowl days of 1936, the family moved to Rt. 5, Janesville. Dick was a 1942 graduate of Janesville High School and in 1950 graduated from UW-Madison with a BS degree from the College of Agriculture. From 1950-1953, he was on active duty with the 5th U.S. Air Force, serving as a 1st Lt. in Korea. He retired as a Lt. Col. from the USAF Reserves upon completion of 20 years of satisfactory services. On April 3, 1954, Dick married Dorothy Hill of Milton. They have 4 children: Tamara (Robert) Porsche of Mequon, R. Scott (Gail) McNall of Glendale, Heidi (James) Grafft and William (Jacque) McNall of Janesville; and grandchildren: Patrick and Andrew Porsche; Carroll, Christopher, Dylan and Tasha McNall; Jane, Britten, Riley and Charlie Grafft; Francine, Jacob, Sarah and Marie McNall; Kerry Cooper and children: Michael, Joey and Lucas Jacobson and Kaitlan.

His business career was spent in and around the field of agri-business as an equipment dealer for 30 years and a cash grain farmer. He had been a longtime member of the Rock Prairie Presbyterian Church, having served as an elder and trustee, as well as a Sunday school teacher for 25 years. Dick was a firm believer in community and especially Janesville. He gave back in many ways by his involvement. As a longtime member of the Noon Rotary Club, he served as president form 1965-1966, chaired the Rotary Horse Show for five years and was a Paul Harris Fellow. Over the years he has been involved with the Janesville Area Chamber of Commerce, North Rock County Givers, Wisconsin Implement Dealer Assn., National Farm and Power Equipment Assn., Sinnissippi Council Boy Scouts of America, Area-1, Boy Scouts of America, Wisconsin Advisory Council on Vo-Ag Education, Advisory Board of First Federal Savings, Director of John Deere Insurance Trust, Milton College, Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program, Rock County Historical Society, Friends of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Power and Light Ag-Advisory Council, Janesville Board of Education, Janesville Educational Foundation, U-Rock Campus Foundation Board, Rotary Gardens, Janesville Country Club and his college fraternity, Alpha Gamma Rho. As a Jaycee he chaired the State Agriculture Committee.

In 1997, Dick was elected to the Rock County Hall of Honor for volunteer service to the Janesville community, in 1998, to the Wisconsin Agribusiness Hall of Fame for service to agribusiness; and, in 1998, the United Way awarded him the Alexis de Tocqueville Society award for leadership. He has also been awarded the Silver Beaver award in Scouting, Honorary State Farmer award, Future Farmer of America Honorary American Farmer award, Future Farmer of America Citation of Honor and the Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program National Distinguished Service award.

Dick is survived by his wife, children and grandchildren; a sister, Marie Jaastad, and a brother, Lester McNall, both of California; along with many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents; 3 brothers: Robert, Ambrose and Webb; and 5 sisters: Irene, Lulu, Frances, Margaret and Dorothy.

Visitation will be held Sunday afternoon, Jan. 18, 2004, from 2:00 until 5:00 p.m. at the Henke-Clarson Funeral Home, 1010 N. Wright Rd., Janesville. Memorial services will be conducted by the Rev. Gary Shields and the Rev. John Bissett at 11:00 a.m. Monday at the Rock Prairie Presbyterian Church, 8625 E. Cty. Tk. A, Janesville. In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, the family suggests memorials to Rotary Gardens, Rock County Historical Society, Sinnissippi Council Boy Scouts of America or the Rock Prairie Presbyterian Church.

[Source: The Janesville Gazette, January 2005, p. 2B]