Rick Chambers Obituary, Death – Rick Chambers passed away peacefully at Hayward Area Memorial Hospital. He was born on August 17, 1945, in Decatur, Illinois, the son of Merle and Marjorie (Wilkins) Chambers. He married Diane Bashor in Hayward, Wisconsin, on October 29, 1977. Rick was raised in East Moline, went to East Moline High School, and was born in Decatur. He served his country as a devoted member of the American Marine Corps. He moved to Hayward, Wisconsin, in 1972 and went to work for B & W Chevrolet as the shop foreman.
He worked as a reserve officer in East Moline, a police officer in the City of Hayward, and lastly a deputy for Sawyer County over the course of his 34-year career. Rick also became the first DARE officer for the county. He retired in 2003 after serving as the Sawyer County Sheriff’s Department’s Chief Deputy. He loved being a police officer and the strong sense of brotherhood that existed among policemen. He was quite proud of the volunteer work he had done for the community and the friendships he had made over the years.
Even after he retired, he kept working for the department as a mechanic, stripping and fixing squad cars. Rick frequently brought his son along on his lengthy motorcycle road trips throughout the nation. He had restored various vintage vehicles, including motorbikes, and was talented with his hands. He could fix just about everything. He enjoyed spending the day at the range since he was a skilled shooter. Rick was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather beyond all else. He was also a devoted husband and father.
He loved spending time with his grandchildren. He was a friendly, intelligent, and kind man who enjoyed making jokes and lending a helping hand. He is survived by his devoted wife of 45 years, Diane Chambers of Hayward, Wisconsin; his children, Brenda Miller of La Vernia, Texas; Erik Chambers and Amy Vasquez of Hayward, Wisconsin; and his grandchildren, Brandon (Casey), Travis, Cameron, Ariah, Johnathan, Gerard, Madelyn, and Alicia; as well as his great-grandchildren, Jordan and Jordan.