November 13, 1935 - March 11, 2024

Richard H. Svitak, 88, of Marquette died on Monday, March 11, 2024 at Emerald Nursing Home in Columbus. Celebration of Life services will be held on Friday, March 15, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at Solt-Wagner Funeral Home in Central City, with Pastor Mark Hartley officiating. Visitation was held on Thursday, March 14th from 5-7 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial of ashes will be held at the Central City Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at Solt-Wagner Community Room immediately following the burial of ashes.

Memorials are suggested to the family to be designated at a later date. Condolences can be sent to the family at www.soltwagnerfuneralcom.

Richard was born on November 13, 1935 to Stanley and Dorothy (Ruge) Svitak in Chapman. Richard grew up in the Chapman and Central City area, and graduated from Central City High School in 1954. After his graduation Richard served his country with the United States Army from August of 1955 until May of 1957. Richard was united in marriage to Mary Belle Watkins at the Friends Quaker Church in Central City on June 14, 1959. He then returned to Central City, where he did some carpentry and masonry work. He actually built his and Mary’s first two houses. He then took a job with the United States Post office in Central City until 1992. He remained in Central City until 2001 when he moved to Lac Denado in rural Marquette, until he moved to Columbus in 2022.

Richard was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Central City, a Past Master of the Masonic Lone Tree Lodge #36, Past Patron of the Order of the Eastern Start #200 in Central City. He was also a Volunteer Fire Firefighter in Central City for over 35 years, Central City EMT and Ambulance Director for 20 years, and a member of the American Legion Post #6.

Those left to cherish his memory are his children; Richard (Patryce) Svitak of Wood River, Michael (Letricia) Svitak of Columbus, Kent Svitak of Bridgeport, Vicki (Michael) Jurgovsky of Logan, Iowa, and Karen Svitak of Central City, his sisters; Marcela Rudolph of Central City, Levada (Dale) Nielson of Archer, Norma Neemeyer of Seward, Vera Kracman of Bellewood, sisters-in-law; Betty King of Central City and Barbara Sidders of Central City, 20 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great grandchild, many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; Mary Belle, his brothers-in-law; Dale King, Dean Sidders, Leroy Rudolph, Leon Neemeyer, and Dennis Kracman, and one granddaughter; Breanna Rinkol.