Richard A. Cain's Obituary
Richard A. Cain, age 82, passed away peacefully at his home on June 30, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.
Richard was born in 1943 in Morrison, Illinois, to Manford and Pearl Cain. As a young boy, he moved with his family to the family farm in Granton, Wisconsin, where he grew up and graduated from high school.
Following graduation, Richard married Kathy (Doering) Cain, and they had 6 children together. Richard proudly served his country by enlisting in the United States Army, where he spent four years as a radar repairman. He later continued his military career with the Illinois Army National Guard and Department of Defense Technician Program, dedicating 42 years of distinguished service as a helicopter mechanic, helicopter pilot, and airplane pilot.
During Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Richard served one overseas tour flying the Army C-12 B200 King Air aircraft. In recognition of his exceptional service and courage, he was awarded the Bronze Star and the Distinguished Flying Cross. Upon his retirement in 2003, Richard had accumulated more than 20,000 flight hours throughout his remarkable aviation career.
After retiring from military service, Richard returned home to Marshfield, Wisconsin, where he shared 25 wonderful years with his partner, Joyce Opelt of Marshfield, WI. Never one to slow down, he continued working for Mid-State Trucking, driving semi-trucks and school buses.
Richard found great joy in flying, working on cars and tractors, spending time with his grandchildren, and listening to the music of Waylon Jennings. He will be remembered for his strong work ethic, dedication to his country, passion for aviation, and the love he had for his family.
Richard is lovingly survived by his partner of 25 years, Joyce Opelt; his daughters, Darla Hinton (Jack), Tammy Roberts (Dave), Wanda Turk, and Diane Kelley (Tony); his sons, Sam Cain (Stephanie) and Clayton Cain (Collin); as well as numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Manford and Pearl Cain; his sister, Betty Boysen; his brother, John Cain; and his beloved grandson, Manny Cain.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Highground Veterans Memorial Park in Neillsville, Wisconsin, in Richard's honor.
Richard's life was defined by service, hard work, and unwavering devotion to his family. His legacy will live on in the many lives he touched, both in uniform and at home, and he will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
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