Richard Wayne Hawkinson

Richard “Dick” Wayne Hawkinson was born to Kenneth and Marjorie Hawkinson on July 20, 1952 at the Rush City Hospital and raised on the family farm in Brook Park, where he learned his love for tractors.  He attended the Beroun Elementary School and the Pine City High School.  He taught himself how to play guitar when he was 14, and spent all his spare time practicing.  After graduating from high school in 1969, the following fall he started studies at the University of Minnesota Morris.  He was drafted into the army after his first year of college and was stationed in Germany.  With his guitar by his side, he was a source of entertainment during downtime.   Playing in his band was his favorite job of all.  In July of 1976 he met Evelyn June Peterson while playing a gig at the Golden Eagle in Grey Eagle, Minnesota.  They were married the next year on June 18, 1977.  Shortly after they were married they began to add to their family: first born was Steven, second Kathleen, and lastly Carl.  In 2007 Kathleen made Richard grand by giving him a grandson named T.J. and in 2008 added a granddaughter named Shaelynn.  He loved them very much!  Richard was a very hard working man; between his job, his band, tech school and his family, he also found time to help his mom and Dad on their farm.   In 2002 he was diagnosed with kidney cancer and after his right kidney was removed he was given the all clear for cancer.  Then in 2009 doctors found cancer on his left lung.  He was given chemotherapy to treat the cancer and in turn the chemotherapy gave him Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS).  He worked right up until he ended up in the hospital due to the MDS on June 18, 2011; his 34th wedding anniversary, with a blood clot in his left leg and one in his right lung.  Richard went home to the Lord on June 28, 2011 surrounded by the love of his family. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn (Peterson) Hawkinson of Pine City; son Steven Hawkinson of San Diego, CA, daughter Kathleen (Troy) Waldren of Duluth, and son Carl Hawkinson of Pine City; 2 grandchildren; 2 step grand children; parents Kenneth and Marjorie (Smith) Hawkinson; brother Cory Hawkinson; sister Barbara Tritch; many nieces, nephews, and friends. Dick is preceded in death by his grandparents. Reverend Kevin Carr officiated the funeral services: 2:00 PM Wednesday (7/6/2011) at First Presbyterian Church in Hinckley. The visitation service was held Tuesday, June 5, 2011 at the Swanson Funeral Chapel in Pine City from 4:00-7:00 PM and 1 hour prior to the funeral service at the church.  Interment with military honors by the Heath-Perkins American Legion Post # 51 was at Hilltop Cemetery in Pine City following the funeral service. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Funeral and Cremation Service of Pine City - Swanson Chapel. www.funeralandcremationservice.com