Richard Lauri Davison, 81, passed away Tuesday, July 5th, following a brave battle with a lengthy illness.

A long-time resident of Wheaton, he was also known to his family and friends as Dick, Lauri, and Doc. Richard was a true Renaissance man with many passions. Always active, he was an avid golfer, tennis player, and cross-country skier. He enjoyed sailing and riding his bike, especially to Starbucks for coffee. He also loved the outdoors, spending countless hours fishing, hiking, birdwatching, and taking annual excursions to camp, canoe, and fish the Canadian boundary waters. His art appreciation included regularly attending live theater performances, musical concerts, and visits to art museums, as well as pursuing his many hobbies like photography, wood carving, and pottery. His scientific interests encompassed a broad range, from astronomy to geology to physics, and often took him to lectures at nearby Fermi lab. Ever the handyman, there wasn't much he couldn't fix or install on his car and around the house. An extensive traveler, Richard visited many countries over several continents, including Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and all fifty of the United States. His brilliant mind was well complimented by his humble manner and terrific sense of humor. Kind, genuine, generous, and always eager to help, he was a wonderful friend and dedicated family man.

Born in Madison, WI, on June 25th, 1941, he spent much of his childhood in Racine and Kenosha before attending Rufus King high school in Milwaukee. Richard started out at Dartmouth College and completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. From there he worked for a brief time at Proctor & Gamble in Cincinnati, OH. He returned to academia, receiving his doctorate in chemical engineering from Purdue University before his adventurous spirit took him to Australia where he spent four years teaching at the South Australia Institute of Technology in Adelaide and exploring the Australian Outback. The family moved back to the states and Richard began a 25+ year career at Amoco in Naperville, developing patented processes for refining oil. Following several years as a consultant with United Oil Products in Des Plaines, Richard officially retired.

He is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 60 years, Barbara (Borth), his two sons, Pete (Lisa) and Joel (Coleen), four grandsons, Zach, Tate, Casey, and Sean, his sister, Ann Clark, sisters-in-law Judy Schaefer and Sue (Roger) Tolfa, his beloved nieces and nephew, and many great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Teppo and Katherine (Dunwiddie) Davison, his brothers-in-law, Allen Clark and Jerry Schaefer, and his very close cousin, Warren "Rocky" Wade.

A celebration of Richard's life will be held on Saturday, August 27 at 3:00 p.m. at Hultgren Funeral Home.  Friends may visit with the family from 2:00 until 3:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to The Morton Arboretum through the Tribute Gifts page: Tribute Gifts . (Select "Donation for honoree" and note "Richard Davison".)