Richard "Dick" Charles Waldman

Richard “Dick” Charles Waldman, age 90, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away on Sunday, December 7, 2025, at Benedictine Living Community – Rochester Madonna Towers.

Richard was born on January 27, 1935, to John and Irene Waldman at his paternal grandparent's house in Mansfield, Ohio.

He spent much of his earliest years living with or cared for by grandparents, Peter and Elizabeth Waldman.

He graduated from St. Peter's High School in Mansfield, Ohio.

His father and grandfather were in the meat business, and he spent many of his high school days working with them. Richard’s uncle was a small farmer, and he developed a love of farming. This had a great influence on him that continued his whole life. During high school, he had a flock of chickens and developed a small herd of cattle.

Dick then attended The Ohio State University. He graduated as a member of three honor societies. The best event of his college years was that he met and eventually married his wife, Annabelle Bump.

He was a member of the U.S. Army Reserve for 12 years. Before attending graduate school, he commanded an infantry company in Lancaster, WI. After moving to Madison, WI, he was promoted to Captain and then appointed to Commander of Troop E, 4th Armored Cavalry.

After graduation, he worked for a supermarket chain. He then decided to change course and worked for an animal drug company as a salesman in Wisconsin. This was a great learning experience, but he had a yearning to get into the meat business. He and Anne leased a locker plant in Wisconsin for 2 years. At the end of the lease, they could not buy the plant.

An opportunity to go to graduate school at the University of Wisconsin came up and they happily took that route. He was awarded a master's degree in meat science. After years of research and course work, he became a Doctor of Animal Science.

Upon graduation, he accepted a group leader position with Union Carbide Corp. in their Food Science Institute in Chicago. He returned to the meat industry as a Vice President for a meat packing company in Baltimore, MD. After a long tenure, he accepted a position in the research department of the Hormel Foods Corp., where he retired from in 1998.

Richard was active in the communities where they lived. He was a long-time member of the Lions Club in Chicago and Maryland. He was an officer in both clubs. He was an active supporter of 4-H Clubs. While in Austin, he belonged to the Austin Kiwanis Club being President and longtime Secretary of the club. He was also a member of the American Legion.

He started a long association with the J.C. Hormel Nature Center. He served on the board and was president.

Tax preparation occupied a lot of his service work having been a tax preparer for the AARP for 17 years.

Dick's interest in farming lead to buying a small farm in Pennsylvania and then a larger farm in Minnesota near Brownsdale. They fed feeder pigs to market weight and had a flock of sheep. He became a member and officer of the Mower County Swine Producers Association and he and Anne were members of the Southeast Minnesota Sheep Producers Association. Dick was a member of the American Meat Science Association and the Food Science Institute. Apha Zeta Fraternity had an important influence on his life.

Dick became an avid fisherman due to the influence of his friends at work. He loved going "North" with them after those big walleyes. Members of this group had monthly poker games, which he greatly enjoyed. Dick was also an avid gardener, having a large garden for many years. A highlight was visiting with family whenever possible.

Dick and Anne were blessed with three children. Karen McCarty who lives in New Jersey, is a co-founder of a charity company who provides clowns to hospitals to entertain very ill children; Peter Waldman, a glass and balloon artist in Austin, and Karleen Marcone (Robert) a teacher and administrator in Manhattan, NY. They have one grandchild, Kate McCarty a therapist in Fort Collins, CO.

He dearly loved his family and was always ready to support them through their education and life.

A celebration of life for Richard and Annabelle will be held in the spring of 2026, at the Jay C Hormel Nature Center in Austin. Worlein-Hoff Funeral Homes of Austin are assisting the family with arrangements.