Anderson Funeral Home

serving families for over 70 years
312 South Stone St.
Augusta, WI 54722
715-286-2222

Richard Deaton
Richard L. Deaton, 79, of Augusta, WI, passed away at his home in the loving care of his family and St. Joseph’s Hospice on Friday morning, Jan. 4, 2013.  

Richard Lewis Deaton was born on Aug. 3, 1933, to Laurice and Hazel (Sharp) Deaton in Jamaica, Iowa. He was raised in Jamaica, where he was baptized and confirmed at Jamaica Union Church. In 1949, he moved with his family moved to Story City, Iowa, where he graduated from high school in 1951. Dick attended Iowa State University before his enlistment in the United States Army. He served in Germany during the Korean War. On June 19, 1955, he was united in marriage to Ann Sowers in Story City. After his honorable discharge the couple moved on to Ann’s grandparent’s farm where they farmed until moving to Ludington Township, Eau Claire County in 1961. While in Ludington he raised registered Holsteins, from 1986 until 1988, he served as the field manager for the Dairy Maid Co-op of Augusta. In 1988, Dick and Ann moved into the city of Augusta. At this time in his life and until 2006, he was employed as a field milk tester by the Wisconsin Dairy and Herd Improvement Association/CRI.  

Dick strongly believed in educating our youth and spent countless hours helping with the Eau Claire County 4-H Fair and as a dairy leader. He was a member of the FFA Alumni, Holstein Association, and served on the building committee of the Augusta High School Industrial Arts building. Dick never lost his interest in farming. He was still involved in raising sheep with his family, attending functions relating to farming and rarely missed the daily “online livestock auctions.� He was an active member of the Augusta United Methodist Church, helped wherever he could at Creative Touch Floral and enjoyed the camaraderie with all his coffee companions he had throughout Augusta.  

He will be deeply missed by Ann, his wife of 57 years; 4 children, Alan Deaton (Kim Schwartz) of Ellsworth, Denise (Scott) Deaton-Tolzman of Dodgeville, Dianne (Rick) Vielhuber of Mazomanie, Debbie (Keith) Kitchen of Augusta; 6 grandchildren, Jennifer (Ben) Stone, Eric Deaton, Ben (Jackie) Deaton, Carissa Ann Tolzman, Zachariah Tolzman and Kevin Kitchen; 3 great grandchildren, Gabe Stone, Dane Deaton, Waylon Deaton; brother, Thomas (Laura) Deaton of Donna, TX; sister-in-law, Mary Deaton of San Antonio, TX. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Gerald Deaton. 
A celebration of Dick’s life will be held Friday, Jan. 11, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Augusta, with Pastor Lon Jury officiating. Burial with military rites will be held at 1:30 p.m. in the West Lawn Cemetery in Augusta. Friends may call from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at the Anderson Funeral Home in Augusta, and one hour prior to services Friday at the church.