Obituary index

Richard 'Dick' Sotzen

[December 21, 2009]  Richard Franklin "Dick" Sotzen, 92, of Lincoln, died Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009, at 5:30 a.m. at Lincoln Christian Village.

A celebration of his life will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Lincoln with Ryan Edgecombe officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service

Burial will be in Zion Cemetery.

Mr. Sotzen retired from Pierce Bottling Co. in Lincoln. He also worked at Stetson China Co. and as a "full service" attendant at the former Burwell gas station.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1945, serving in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater during World War II. Upon his return from the Philippines, he served as a guard with the military police at Fort Leavenworth. In the military he was also trained as a medical technician.

He was born Dec. 3, 1917, in Beason to Frank R. and Clara McNally Sotzen. He married Fern Vandevender on June 21, 1947, in Lincoln. They enjoyed 52 years of marriage prior to her death in March 1999.

He is survived by two sons, Gary Richard (and Mary Ann) Sotzen of Chestnut and James Franklin Sotzen of Lockport; two daughters, Sharon L. (and Gary) Brinkmeyer of Charleston and Gloria L. (and Ron) Helgert of Fairview Heights; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

He was also preceded in death by two sisters, Virginia Culleton and Mable Hertzfeldt.

He was lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church of Lincoln.

He and Fern enjoyed square dancing as members of the Lin-Pro Square Dance Club, going to country music shows and spent time at The Oasis senior center.

He graduated from Lincoln Community High School in 1937.

Dick was an avid sports fan, especially for Lincoln Railer basketball, the St. Louis Cardinals and the Illini. He will be buried with his "reserved" bleacher seat from the Roy S. Anderson gym, where he loyally sat cheering on his beloved Railers.

He was especially proud of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and enjoyed countless hours spent with them.

Memorial gifts in his honor may be made to Lincoln Christian Village.

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