Richard "Dick" John Dvorak, 63, passed away on September 2, 2016, at the family home after a short, aggressive battle with cancer.Dick was born in Town of Kossuth, Manitowoc, on November 27, 1952, Thanksgiving Day, to Jean (Hird) Dvorak, and the late Norval Dvorak. Dick began his grade school education in a one room school house in Brockville and then transferred to O.H. Schultz Elementary in Mishicot, upon the completion of the 1965 construction. He graduated from Mishicot High School in 1971, having been extensively involved in the FFA Chapter where he served as Chapter President and earned numerous degrees including the State FFA Degree and the National American FFA Degree. He furthered his education at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, earning a B.S. in Dairy Science in 1975. While attending Madison, Dick was a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and spent countless hours helping manage the UW dairy herd under the guidance of the late Ernie Zehner.Following college graduation, Dick returned to the home farm in Kossuth to establish his own dairy herd within Dvorak Farms Inc., building a 100+ milking herd with young stock and dairy steers. On October 19, 1979, he married Lynn M. Gauger, a former neighborhood acquaintance. They took ownership of the family farm shortly thereafter. Dick and his family received the Century Farm award at the WI State Fair in 1985 in recognition of family ownership for over 125 years, prior to the Civil War.After a barn fire in 1986, the herd was sold and Dick began working for GHD, Inc. doing cleanup of various contaminated soils. During this time, he grew his dairy steer business to 1000+ head. He later took a cattle procurement position with Packerland Packing in Green Bay, WI, traveling to a number of Midwest states visiting farmers who raised dairy steers. When Packerland was sold to JBS, a Brazilian group, who established their main offices in Colorado, Dick resigned. During this time, he continued to raise Holstein steers and took pride in his children showing cattle at the county and state fairs. Dick began his last career as an administrative technician with DVO, Inc. selling anaerobic methane digesters.Throughout his life, Dick was very involved in a variety of organizations, such as: 18 years of service on the Mishicot School Board; 12 years on the Manitowoc County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, where he served as president and thoroughly enjoyed working with his family at the annual County Breakfast on the Farm and the County Fair Farm Bureau Food Stand. He was an active member of St. John Ev. Lutheran Church, Maribel, serving on various committees, including a three year, term as a member of the St. John School Board, Church Treasurer and Church President. Dick enjoyed officiating high school football games and also assisted coaching the St. John's boys' basketball team. His most recent activity he shared was with his father in attending planning meetings for the Wisconsin Agricultural Education Center.He is survived by his wife of 36 years: Lynn M. (Gauger) Dvorak, rural Whitelaw (Fisherville Road); and by their four children: Angela Dvorak, rural Whitelaw; Katrina Dvorak, Madison; Zachary (Susan) Dvorak, Pleasant Prairie; Joseph Dvorak, Menominee Falls; three grandchildren: Emma Dvorak (5), Claire Dvorak (18 mos.), Daniel Dvorak (7 mos.); his mother: Jean E. Dvorak, Manitowoc; three brothers and sisters-in-law: David (Donna) Dvorak, rural Two Rivers (Fisherville Road); Steve (Melanie) Dvorak, Chilton; Robert (Sandy) Dvorak, Eden; nieces and nephews: Doug Dvorak; Vicki Dvorak and her fiancée: Dean Morgan; Melissa (Doug) Van Ornum; Eric (Kelly) Dvorak; Emily (Adam) Buckingham; Adam (Courtney) Dvorak, other relatives and friends also survive. Dick was preceded in death by his father: Norval Dvorak; and his parents-in-law: Robert and Viola Gauger.A Funeral Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 10, 2016, at St. John Ev. Lutheran Church, Maribel. The Rev. Daniel Cole will officiate with cremation to follow.

Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter Sep 8 2016