Richard "Red" Lawrence Cotter

Richard "Red" Lawrence Cotter, 91, of Sturgeon Bay, WI, passed away, Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at the Unity Hospice Jack and Engrid Meng Residence in the Town of Ledgeview (De Pere), WI.

He was born September 5, 1932, in Chicago, IL, the son of William Sylvester Cotter and Florence Margaret (Betz) Cotter. Red attended St. Turibius Catholic Church in Chicago.

Red enlisted to serve his country with the United States Navy, entering into active duty on October 13, 1950. He was stationed at USNTC Great Lakes in Illinois and served on the USS Valley Forge (CVS-45). Red was honorably discharged from the Navy on August 5, 1954, with the rank of Boilerman 2nd Class and remained on reserved status until August 13, 1965.

He married Patricia Ellen Campbell at St. Turibius Catholic Church in Chicago on July 14, 1956. Together, Red and Pat resided in the Chicago Lawn community, purchasing the home he grew up in from his mother. In 1994, they moved to a condominium in Palos Hills, IL and in 2016 they purchased their forever home in Sturgeon Bay, WI. Red was a member of the Veteran of Foreign Wars (V.F.W.) Post #3088 in Sturgeon Bay.

Red was employed as a Cutting Pressman with The Waldorf Corporation in Chicago and was a member of Union Local 415-S. He retired from The Waldorf Corporation in 1997.

Red and Pat, along with his brother, William (Elaine), purchased the cottage at 3989 Evergreen Rd. in Fish Creek, WI, in 1968. They created and ran the Silo Bicycle Rental with family members. In 1975, Red and Pat took sole ownership of the property where it remained a summer home and the host of countless family and friends for 55 years. Red worked to convert the existing farm silo into a second guest home with four stories that rarely had a vacancy over the years. He and Pat were parishioners of Stella Maris Parish-Fish Creek site. 

Red was a woodworker who enjoyed handcrafting “Schoolhouse” clocks and wooden banks with older U.S. Post Office combination fronts. He also restored his 1931 Ford Model A sedan and while living in Door County, was a member of the Cherryland A's Car Club. Red always enjoyed his time on the water with his last boat the “Patty B” as well as being on the water in other friends and family member’s boats. Above all, he loved his family. Red’s other passion was his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Red will be deeply missed by his "Patsy", with whom he was blessed to have over 67 years of marriage; children, David Cotter and Beverly Hollis, both of Sturgeon Bay, WI; grandchildren, Dawn Wagner, John Cotter, David (Kelly) Cotter II, Megan Cotter (Armando Maruffo), Michael Hajek, Eric Hajek, and Amber (Matthew) Masterson; 14 great-grandchildren; sister, Dorothy (Frank) Paulan; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, James "Butch" Cotter (Norma-widowed); and siblings, Edward (Julie) Cotter, Joseph (Renee) Cotter, William (Elaine) Cotter, and Marion (Alfred) Tague.

 A Mass of Christian Burial will be prayed at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 14, 2024, at Stella Maris Parish-Sister Bay site, 2410 S. Bay Shore Drive, Sister Bay, WI 54234 with Fr. Thomas Farrell as celebrant.

Red will be laid to rest in Blossomberg Cemetery, Peninsula State Park, Fish Creek, WI with military honors by the United States Navy and V.F.W. Post #3088.

Visitation for family and friends will be held at the church on Friday, June 14, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. until 10:45 a.m.

Memorials may be given in honor of Red:

The American Heart Association (https://www.heart.org/donate)

The Alzheimer's Association (https://alz.org/donate)

"A special thanks goes out to his neighbor friends and caregivers, Tim and Lynn, Morgan for all of their help and care given to Red over the years. Thank you also to the staff of Unity Hospice for the wonderful care given to Red. Many thanks to the friends and family who were able to share time supporting him for the last few months."

Arrangements have been entrusted with Huehns Funeral Home in Sturgeon Bay, WI. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Red may be shared with his family through his tribute page at www.huehnsfuneralhome.com.

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