Richard Calvin "Rich" Gartley

On January 5, 2021 Richard Calvin “Rich” Gartley (78) of Indianapolis, Indiana passed away from complications of Covid-19. Rich was born in Waukegan, Illinois on February 26, 1942 to Andrew Calvin “Cal” Gartley and Ethel Mae (Skidmore) Gartley, making their home in Muncie, Indiana before settling in Clarendon Hills, Illinois.  From an early age Rich’s family spent extended periods of time on Crescent Lake and the surrounding Rhinelander, Wisconsin area.

One of his early projects (age 12) was building the family’s first wooden water ski boat in their basement from plans they purchased.  Rich’s mom entered a nationwide contest to win a 75 horse Johnson outboard engine for the boat. She had to say in twenty-five words or less why boating was important. Ethel won with her entry “Because Boating Keeps the Family Together” and this has been true for our family ever since. Rich rarely missed watching his son, Mike perform in the Rhinelander Hodag Water Ski team shows and participating in competitions or driving the boat for hours as Mike, Kris and in later years Andy and their friends worked to improve their skills at a watersport.  The family was proud that Rich in his early 70’s still took his ski runs around Enterprise Lake.

After Rich’s graduation in 1960 from Hinsdale Central High School, Hinsdale Illinois he attended the University of Iowa with a plan to earn his B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering. Rich was a proud member of the Iowa Hawkeyes Marching Band playing the drums.

An appreciation for music was woven through the years of his life. In his early adult- life some of the family’s best memories were of Rich playing his drums at family and neighborhood music nights and dancing at places such as the famous Willowbrook Ballroom Dance Hall (Illinois) or Holiday Acres Resort in Rhinelander Wisconsin. In later years he enjoyed the music of Steve Jeffris every Wednesday night with his spouse Patty and their group of friends.

In addition to his passion for all things mechanical Rich was a natural born salesman.  His first job after college was as a boat technician for Thede Marine, Downers Grove, IL. Other jobs that followed included Sears in the display department, 3M Company Nuclear Sales Division, ConAir, Eaton/Leonard, Drico and GB systems. Rich knew success at many of the companies he worked for winning numerous sales contests and being honored as salesman of the year multiple times.

Rich moved to Indianapolis, Indiana after his second marriage to Patty on April 16, 1988. Together they started Gartley & Associates, representing and selling a diverse line of products until Rich accepted a sales manager position at Speas Tech Inc. Working with Speas Tech owners at age sixty Rich and his partners founded AVOW LLC for which Rich served as CEO until his retirement. Together they worked to enhance and sell automated error-proofing equipment used in the manufacturing industry.

In retirement Rich served as President for Lake Maxinhall Homeowners Association, volunteered many times as a poll worker at local elections, and helped with music events at Jeffris Junction. Rich liked to be productive, work with his hands and was always involved in a “project” around the home, in the yard, on the vehicles/boats or at the Enterprise Lake cottage in Elcho, Wisconsin.

Rich is survived by his son, Michael (Teresa) Gartley Verona, Wisconsin, daughter Kristin (Jerry) Sabel, granddaughter, Lexi Sabel, North Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, stepchildren Kerry West, and Andy West, both of Indianapolis, Indiana, sister Andrea (Gartley) Ware (Cal Wadley) Pittsboro, North Carolina, his first spouse and the mother of his children, Gail Gartley Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, as well as other extended family members and good friends.

Rich was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved spouse of 32 years Patsy “Patty” Gartley on January 4, 2021 also from complications of Covid-19, step- grandson Nathan Sabel, brother and sister-in-law Richard and Shirley Vaughn.

The last seven years Rich had been exhibiting signs of Vascular Dementia. The disease slowly robbed him of the ability to participate in and enjoy the life and relationships he once knew. The family asks that in lieu of flowers donations be made is Rich’s name to the non-profit Dementia Society of America ( https://www.dementiasociety.org ).

A celebration of life service and private family burial will be held in Wisconsin later this year.