Richard “Dick” Pamperin, age 84, passed away Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at his home in Marion, Wisconsin, surrounded by his loving family.
Richard John Pamperin was born March 23, 1941, in Green Bay to Jerome and Geraldine (Ebert) Pamperin. He married Patricia “Pat” Bussiere on August 18, 1962, at St. Edward & Isadore Catholic Church in Flintville, Wisconsin. He is survived by their three sons, Todd (Laurie) Pamperin of Tigerton, Tom (Denise) Pamperin of Marion, and Tim (Maria) Pamperin of Wausau; three granddaughters, Kirsten (Riley) Menting, Madeline Pamperin, Lauren Pamperin; three sisters, Ann Schrader (Jim) of Suamico, Jane Pamperin of Howard, and Phyliss Reedy (Tony) of Howard; one brother, Steven (Sue) Pamperin of Howard; two sisters-in-law, Cathy Gilmet and Eileen Charles of Green Bay; nieces and nephews Ken Schrader, Jill Wettstein, Jerry and Jeff Lemke, Christopher and Alicia Pamperin, Chris, Kelly, and Cory Gilmet, and David Charles; and special companion, Betty Olson of Marion.
He is preceded in death by his beloved wife Pat, his parents, his father- and mother-in-law Harold and Dorothy Bussiere, brothers-in-law Ken Charles and James Bussiere, and nephews Michael Charles and Donald Schrader.
Dick’s remarkable journey through life began at a small dairy farm and one-room schoolhouse in Mill Center, Wisconsin. Many of the lessons he and his siblings learned in life had these humble origins. Dick’s first major leadership roles came as President of Wisconsin’s 4-H Leadership Council and Commencement Speaker at his Pulaski High School graduation. They would be the first of many. He attended UW River Falls for one year before finding his place at UW Madison and Delta Theta Sigma, an organization in which he was also the President. Dick and Pat married three months after graduation. He discovered finance in 1964 with his hire at Production Credit Association and did not look back for the next 50+ years. However, Dick found his true calling in community banking in 1971 when he joined Gillett State Bank. In August 1978, he joined Marion State Bank, now known as Premier Community Bank, in Marion, where he served as President for 27 years and continued service on the board of directors and as Chairman of the Board. He also served on the board of directors of four other community banks, the board of directors for the Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA), and numerous groups within the American Bankers Association (ABA), culminating as Chairman of their Community Bankers Council. He was also recognized as the Wisconsin Community Banker of the Year in 1991, received the Bruning Award from the ABA in 2007 for his significant service to America’s rural and agricultural communities, recognized by the Wisconsin Legislature in 2008 for his 40 years of exemplary service, and joined the WBA’s Wall of Excellence in Banking Leadership in 2020, surrounded by family and an honor that he shares with his son, Tom.
Another of Dick’s passions in life was his and Pat’s dedication to the community of Marion. They were proud members and contributors to St. Mary’s Catholic Church and founding members of the Marion Historical Society. Dick was a member of Rotary (Paul Harris Fellow) and Marion Lions (Melvin Jones Fellow), a proud recipient of the “Friend of Educators Award” in 1998, a founding member of Marion Economic Development Corporation and Marion Area Community Foundation and served as a board member for the local Clintonville Hospital in the 1990s. Dick was a tireless promoter of Marion, its people, and its proud rural way of life.
These passions pushed Dick to the forefront professionally and as a member of the Marion community, but he never lost his sense of his deep dedication to the land and nature that he had as a boy. Along with his brother, Dick cash cropped the family farm for several years, teaching his sons the value of worked land, serviced machinery, and picked stones. He loved his trips out West hunting, fishing in Canada, and passing those traditions of loving the land onto his family. He was an avid trout fisherman, golfer, and hunter that celebrated tagging a deer over seven different decades of life, a passionate gardener. and a lover of walking wherever and however the road led. Dick always celebrated the night before deer season with his son Todd, a tradition kept for 40+ years. His later years found enjoyment walking the family’s land, tending his garden, fishing, playing cards, and discovering more of Wisconsin’s hidden roads.
Somehow Dick found time for other passions too. He loved traveling to new places, talking to people he met (a trait passed on to all three sons), and trying new foods and recipes. Dick traveled to all 50 states and more than a dozen countries. He found a kindred spirit in his son Tim for these passions, and countless hours were spent telling tales of past and new adventures.
Finally, Dick’s greatest passion may have been teaching his sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, siblings, family, friends, neighbors, and all the people he met what it meant to be a good man. He read to children, volunteered his precious time to work a St. Mary’s food stand or Lion’s Club tent, mentored countless young students and employees, and always celebrated the accomplishments of others. Dick sent hundreds of personal letters to people congratulating them, thanking them, or even a simple card of condolence, always with a handwritten note. He always found time to say thank you. Lastly, he was so fond of telling stories to illustrate a lesson, giving the listener what felt like a parable. It’s those stories that his family may miss most of all, but those stories, that shared experience, is what will help us grieve and celebrate Dick Pamperin, our beloved father.
Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11 AM on Saturday, October 18, 2025 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church Marion, with Fr. Mark Rydell officiating. Interment will take place at the parish cemetery at a later date.
Visitation will take place from 4 - 7 PM on Friday, October 17, 2025 at the Eberhardt-Stevenson Funeral Home & Crematory, Clintonville South location, (299 S. Main St. Clintonville, WI 54929); and again on Saturday at the church from 10 AM until the time of service.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate a contribution to the Marion Area Community Foundation (230 Mavis Road, Marion, WI 54950). Dick would be happy to know that his name will live on through the advancement and growth of Marion.
An online guestbook is available at
eberhardtstevenson.com.
