Dr. Richard Wilterdink 1935-2024

Richard was born on Aug. 8, 1935, in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, to Mabel and Harold Wilterdink.

He is survived by two sisters, Ruth Ann Van Dixhorn (Henry) and Mary Teune (David); his devoted and loving wife of 40 years, Cathy; his children, Rick Wilterdink, Pam Wilterdink (Robert Dass), John Wilterdink (Melissa), Jim Wilterdink (Amy), Paul Seck (Florencia) and Emily Seck Boyle (Lincoln). He has 13 grandchildren, Maggie, Katie, Bridgette, Amber, Hope, Hannah, Sophia, Parkes, Charlie, Piper, Paloma, Camilo and Barrett; also, two great-grandchildren, Victoria and Mark.

Richard (who was nicknamed “Dick” growing up, then called “Rich” and “Doc” in later years) spent his childhood working on his grandfather Wilterdink’s large-scale farm. He was a great lover of barns and animals and had a horse most of his life. He enjoyed gardening, growing a large vegetable garden every summer, as well as roses and zinnias. He loved children, older folks and especially babies, delivering over 2,000 in his career as a physician. He had a wonderful bedside manner which made him beloved by his patients.

Richard was a 4-point chemistry and anatomy graduate of Lakeland College, where he was also an All-conference football star center, inducted into the Football Hall of Fame there in 1985.

After college, he did a fellowship in anatomy at Tulane University before enlisting in the Army. Stationed at Fort Hood in Texas he was in charge of medical research and co-authored a groundbreaking paper on exchange transfusions in newborns. He then went on to graduate from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Missouri and in 1967 and set up a practice of general medicine and obstetrics in Cortland. He was on the medical staff of Warren General Hospital.

Richard fell in love with and married Catherine in 1984. They had many happy years together as celebrated members of their church, frequenting cruises where they won dance competitions, and regularly visiting Sanibel Island, where they walked the beach every morning and rode bikes in the afternoons.

“Doc” was very active after retiring from medicine — riding his horse, swimming and gardening in the summers and cross-country skiing and walking with his dogs at the park in the winters. He loved his family dearly and with a huge appetite for life, he relished dinners, games and lots of joking and laughing with his friends, his kids and grandkids. Those that knew him will remember him for his kind eyes, his bear hugs and his hearty laugh.

A celebration of life ceremony will be held in the near future. If you would like to honor Richard’s memory, please donate to the Salvation Army.

Arrangements were by Lane Funeral Home.

(special notice)