Richard Sing Obituary

Richard James Sing

May 4, 1927 to September 19, 2025

Richard "Dick" Sing has passed away after a long and remarkable life.

Richard was born in Minneapolis, MN on May 4, 1927 to Eleanor Mehringer Sing and Mao Ah Sing, the oldest of six children.

Dick spent his childhood in beautiful Fountain City, WI on the banks of the upper Mississippi, where he and his brothers developed a lifelong love of the outdoors. He grew up during the Great Depression and in significant poverty. At the12, he was the man of the house, and to help his mother and younger siblings, he began living and working on the Haag farm, all while continuing to attend school and excel at his studies. Because of their Christian kindness, he considered Annie and George Haag to be family for the rest of his life. In his high school years during WWII, he played basketball and excelled at his studies, and continued working his jobs on the Mississippi River. Richard turned 18 in 1945 and, not wanting to be drafted into another branch, he enlisted at the local Navy recruiter. Unexpectedly, they shipped him on the spot to the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. He did not say goodbye to his mother, and he missed graduation and recognition as valedictorian, which he always regretted.

In the Navy, Dick trained for the invasion of Japan, but the war ended before he saw combat. He attained the rank of Navy Petty Officer Third Class. He served as a Navy hospital corpsman and physical (athletic) therapist in Maryland and St. Albans, NY, rehabilitating injured war veterans. After he completed his enlistment, he returned home to Fountain City. He attended the Winona Teachers College on the GI Bill, intending to become a medical doctor. He had many different jobs, some he said were quite awful such as being a tanner. For a better opportunity, he moved across the state and began working for the Ladish Company, a steel forging manufacturer in Cudahy, Wisconsin. Once he was promoted to management, he never returned to school.

He met Cudahy girl, Joannie Marie Fedor, on a blind double date. He liked to joke that couple who set them up did not work out, whereas Dick and Joannie soon married in 1956. A son, Curtis James, followed the next year and they went on to have 4 more children: Colette, Wendy, Susanne, and Quinten. In 1961, he was one of several managers and employees sent to Cynthiana, KY to open a plant here. He worked for Ladish Company's Kentucky Division as Manager of Manufacturing and Production Manager for almost 40 years, raising his family in Cynthiana, which became home. After retirement, Richard enjoyed attending weekly breakfasts with the Ladish retirees until the Covid lockdowns.

Dick was a lifelong reader and learner. Up until his death, he remembered his Coleridge and Longfellow, assorted quotes, sea shanties, and factoids. He enjoyed many lifelong friendships, and he shared his interests and activities with friends and family. He was a longtime member of the Cynthiana Country Club and golfed well into his 80s. He had a monthly poker club with a good group of men for 4 decades. Over his life, he enjoyed hunting, especially trips to Nebraska for pheasant hunting, raising and training bird dogs, farming, gardening, beekeeping, camping, boating, water and snow skiing, and motorcycling. He became a student of any activity that sparked his interest, asking questions and reading up.

By his side in all his pursuits was his loving wife, Joannie, whose boundless enthusiasm and good nature aided Dick's adventurousness. Together they took family camping trips across the Great Plains and Wild West; from the Appalachians and Blue Ridge Mountains, up to the Alleghenies and across to the Rockies, up and around Mackinaw, Sault Ste. Marie and Canada, Pennsylvania Dutch Country, Niagara Falls, and annual camping trips to Myrtle Beach. They made a memorable Bicentennial trip to NYC. All of his children have a love of Rand McNally maps from hours spent with Richard pouring over the road map, making detailed trip plans, and dreaming of the next adventure.

The entire family enjoyed returning to visit family in Wisconsin, where they joined in boating, skiing, and snowmobiling in the winter, and the good food and shops Cudahy and Milwaukee.

Dick was a skilled and conscientious motorcycle rider, and he and Joannie treasured their membership in the Gold Wing Road Riders Association. In GWRRA, they made many dear friends with whom they filled in their "biker vests" with pins and patches from state rallys, competitions, annual Wing Ding national gatherings, and the OOPS Club, which was for the unfortunate bikers who had a spill. They traveled the entire continental United States on their touring bike and camper, and faithfully sent postcards describing all the good food they tried, from Maine lobster, to New Orleans beignets, to oysters on the Oregon coast, to Alaskan salmon. Their travels have often been recreated by family, signing their names in the same guestbooks as their parents years before.

They looked forward to annual trips: winter trips to the Colorado Rockies for skiing, and a Canada fishing camp trip with friends, where they stayed in a bare rustic cabin, and loved every minute of roughing it.

Richard and Joannie enjoyed hosting family, touring horse farms, attending the Kentucky Derby, the Beverly Hills Supper Club, Keeneland, UK sports, Reds and Bengals games, and the Green Bay Packers

When they retired their motorcycle, Dick and Joannie enjoyed being grandparents to Joe and John, who were a blessing and joy.

Sadly, his adventures with Joannie were ended by her battle with ovarian cancer, which took her on her 61st birthday, July 4, 1999. Inspired by the witness of her faith, and wanting to better understand her devotion, Richard entered RCIA at St. Edwards, and he came into the Catholic Church at Easter the following year. Some might credit that as Joannie's first miracle as a saint.

Dick had many sayings and aphorisms that he shared at the right moment, including "root little pig, or die", "suit yourself", "off like a dirty shirt", "endeavor to persevere," and the teaching story of Omar, the camel, and the sandstorm.

He was a faithful and appreciative husband, generous provider, and a no-nonsense yet loving father. Dick set an example for his children of fidelity, hard work, continual learning, keeping one's commitments, and an appreciation for recreation, leisure time, and friendship. His family will be comforted by memories and stories, and a shared appreciation of his interests, especially the love of outdoors that lives on in his son, Curt.

He is proceeded in death by his wife of 43 years, Joannie, and infant son Quinten James Sing, his parents, his father-in-law Stanley Fedor and mother-in-law Anna Michalski Fedor, his brothers Robert, Edward and Frank, and brothers-in-law Bob Haag, Herb Lea, Robert Mueller, John Burt, and Ralph Fedor, and sisters-in-law Roma Sing, Rita Sing, and Mary Kay Fedor, and Annie and George Haag.

He is survived by his son, Curtis James Sing, daughters Colette Ann (Tim) Farthing, Wendy Marie Sing, Susanne Lucia (Ray Gries) Sing, two grandsons, Joseph (Bekah) DeLeo and John Steele, his sisters Mary Mueller and Frances Burt, and his brother-in-law, Dr. Thomas (Lucia) Fedor, and many cherished nephews and nieces.

He also leaves behind his beloved and heartbroken companion of twenty-five years, Libby Williams, with whom he enjoyed new friendships, adventures, and travel. And he leaves his final canine companion, Hoda, that he and Libby raised together.

Services for Richard will be at 1:00 P.M., Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at Ware Funeral Home. The visitation will be just prior to the service beginning at 11:00 A.M. and lasting until the time of services. Father Joseph Rielage will preside, and burial will follow in St. Edward Catholic Cemetery. Pallbearers: Joseph DeLeo, Joseph Steele, Justin Duncan, Dwayne Browning, Dan Clifford, Dr. A. C. Wright., Tim Farthing, Ray Gries. Honorary: Jim Roland, Jim Kane, Trudie Harrison, Dr. Thomas Fedor. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you donate to a worthwhile cause in Dick's honor, such as the American Lung Association. View and sign the guest book at www.warefuneralhome.com.