Richard Dale Pabst, 86, of Cole Camp, passed away on Monday, February 10, 2025, at the Good Samaritan Care Center in Cole Camp. He was born on May 29, 1938, in Mondovi, Wisconsin, a son of Wilbur Harold and Vera Esther (Stankey) Pabst.
Richard enlisted in the United States Air Force on October 22, 1956. He attended jet aircraft school at Amarillo AFB, Texas, and was stationed at Whiteman AFB, Missouri, then transferred to Sheppard AFB, Texas, as an instructor. He then spent from July of 1968 to December of 1969 in Okinawa, then Forbes AFB, Kansas, Thailand-Ubon AFB, Karat AFB Thailand, and K. I. Sawyer AFB, Michigan, until his retirement on June 1, 1977.
On November 17, 1958, at Harrison, Arkansas, he was united in marriage to Geraldine June Viebrock. This union was blessed with the gift of a son, Steven.
After retiring from the military, he moved to a small farm north of Cole Camp and went to work for Pittsburgh Corning in Sedalia. On his farm, he raised cows, chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, and pheasant, as well as a large garden. Richard loved to go hunting and fishing. He even went Halibut fishing in Alaska with his grandson Barry, brother Wilbur, brother-in-law Jerry, and nephews Brian and Alan. He enjoyed going to the lake and spending time with his friends, meeting uptown at the local watering hole and keeping his yard mowed shoe sole high.
He is survived by his wife, Geraldine Pabst of the home; his son, Steven Pabst of Cole Camp; a grandson, Barry Pabst and his wife Katilyn; sisters, Delores Larson and Melvin of Fall Creek, Wisconsin, Charlotte Maxon and Jerry of Munising, Michigan, and Sally Olsen of Eau Claire, Wisconsin; sister-in-law, Charlotte Pabst of Pacific, Washington; half-brothers, William, David, Duane, and Joe; half-sisters, Diane, Roseanna, Loretta, Donna, Mary, Kathy, Cheryl, Barbara, and Laurie; and aunt, Ruthie Kent and Duttie of Mondovi, Wisconsin.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Wilbur and Vera Pabst, and a brother, Wilbur Pabst, Jr.
Memorial services will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 23, 2025, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall in Cole Camp with military honors by the American Legion Post No. 305.
The family suggests memorial contributions be given to American Legion Post No. 305 or Benton County Hospice in care of the Fox Funeral Home, Cole Camp.
Online condolences may be left at www.foxfuneralhomecolecampmo.com.
