Richard Tamke

Richard Steele Tamke, 91, of Battle Lake , died Saturday, December 11, 2010 at the Battle Lake Good Samaritan Home.





Dick was born in Chisago City May 10, 1919 to Henry and Minna (Plahn) Tamke. He grew up on a small farm near Pine City where his father practiced chiropractics.


He attended Pine City Schools, gradating at the age of 16. He was employed in the printing trade by The Pine County Pioneer which later became The Pine Poker, a position he had until 1940.


He moved to Seattle , WA in 1940, working at Boeing aircraft as an aircraft mechanic and later a standby co-pilot for completed B-17 bombers for their first flight to Spokane for armament.


He returned to Minnesota in 1941 to instruct in aviation mechanics and then returned to the printing trade as a Linotype operator at Princeton and Minnetonka . He was rehired at The Pine Poker in a management position.


It was in 1941 that Dick joined the Minnesota Civil Air Patrol with the rank of Captain and established a squadron in Pine City .


Dick was married to Virginia Paulson October 17, 1942 in Pine City and they made their home there. He continued in the printing industry and also took part in flight instruction efforts in that area while continuing in C.A.P.


He was the piano and organ player in a dance band he formed. The band played in several night clubs and dance halls in eastern Minnesota .


In June of 1953, the Tamkes purchased The Battle Lake Review and, with their family, moved to Battle Lake where they had since resided.


His love for flying continued and he was the Commanding Officer of the Fergus Falls C.A.P. squadron. He rented a piece of land, where the current Battle Lake Airport now operates and flew his own aircraft from this strip.


In 1981, Dick made an innovation in the newspaper circle by installing his own television broadcasting equipment in the basement of the family home. REVU-TV became the first weekly newspaper in the United States to record and transmit a live broadcast over Battle Lake ’s cable TV. Rebroadcasts of school board and city council meetings and local sporting events kept him busy along with the newspaper.


Dick became a member of the Minnesota Newspaper Association’s Half-Century Club in 1986 at their annual convention.


In was also in this year that he and his wife, Virginia, boarded their new Goldwing for a trip to the east coast. This was followed by a trip to the west coast in 1987.


He retired from the constant newspaper work in 1990 but continued to work part-time in the editorial and photography areas at The Review.


Community involvement was a part of Dick’s life as he would assist in announcing the games for the Battle Lake Lakers Town baseball team, served on the board for the Battle Lake Recreation Association, was a two year president of the Battle Lake Civic & Commerce Association and was instrumental in forming the Aqua Fest summertime celebration and bringing circuses to Battle Lake in the late 1950’s and 1960’s.


He was a 53 year member of Corner Stone (Masonic) Lodge #99 in Fergus Falls , Royal Arch and Commandry and the York Rite Shrine. He maintained membership in the Zuhrah Shrine in Minneapolis and had also been a member of El Zagle Shrine in Fargo .


He served as Captain and President of the Pelican Rapids Escort Patrol, a Shrine motorcycle group that performed in parades.


Dick was a charter member of the Battle Lake Lions Club and was the only charter member to maintain his membership in the club. He was awarded the Melvin Jones Fellow Award and was also presented with the Helen Keller Sight Award. He served two different terms on the local club’s board and was also a Zone Chairman and a cabinet member for several District Governors.


He was a member of First Lutheran Church in Battle Lake and has served on the Board of Directors of that church.


He is survived by one daughter, Holly ( Lynn ) Johnson of Battle Lake; sons, Richard (Kathleen Ball) of Battle Lake , Terry (Corazon) of Sartell, Tom (Trudy) of Fremont , NE and Jon (special friend Lisa Bratz) of Battle Lake ; 11 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and his faithful companion of 13 years, Jacqueline Estes of Battle Lake .


He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Virginia; sister, Erma Gottry and half-brother, Ed Tamke.