Richard "Dick" L. Oates

Richard “Dick” L. Oates of Waukesha passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of his family at Fairway Knoll in Germantown on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at the age of 82. He was born in Assumption, IL on August 5, 1938 the son of Lloyd and Adolphine (nee Morez) Oates. Dick grew up in Central, Illinois and due to his father’s work with the IL Central Railroad their family moved every few years. Playing golf, baseball and track helped Dick make friends each time they moved. He credited his adaptability to these moves to his later success in life as he made changes with his career. Dick went on to graduate from Dixon High School and he was always proud to tell people this was the school Ronald Reagan graduated from. He worked summers for the railroad earning enough money to put himself through Carroll College. At Carroll he made lifelong friends, found a career he loved and met his first wife Judy Mink there. Together they had two children, Mike, and Jenny. Judy preceded Dick in death in 2003. In 2004 he met, Carolyn Hunter and they were married in 2010. Together they built a home at the Verandah in Fort Meyers, Florida where they met and have many friends, they explored their loved of travel and Dick taught Carolyn to play golf.

Dick was a successful businessman and banker, retiring as President of Sunset Bank, Waukesha. His family was his greatest love, and he will be dearly missed.

He is survived by his wife Carolyn Hunter Oates, his son Mike Oates and daughter Jenny (Chuck) Burghaus; his grandchildren, Kyle Oates, Allie (Chris) Selbo and Sarah (David) Laughlin; great-grandchildren, Liam, and Mira Selbo; his stepchildren, Amy (Mike) Dethloff and Sara (Chris) Woll, step-grandchildren, Eric and Sam Dethloff and Jackson and Archer Woll. He is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relative and many friends around the country. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Judy Mink Oates, his parents, Lloyd and Adolphine Oates and his brother Jim Oates.

The family wishes to extend their deepest appreciation to Fairway Knoll and Brighton Hospice for their wonderful care.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021 from 10:30 AM until the 12:00 PM (noon) Celebration of Life at First United Methodist Church, 121 Wisconsin Ave., Waukesha, WI 53186. Face masks or coverings are required by First United Methodist Church. Private interment was held at Prairie Home Cemetery. Memorials in Dick’s name are appreciated to the Richard and Carolyn Hunter Oates Endowed Scholarship Fund for International Study at Carroll University, 100 N. East Ave., Waukesha, WI 53186.