Richard Sigg: A gentleman in carpenter’s garb

opinions

April 22, 2013 - 12:00 AM

When I first moved to Iola 13 years ago my mom said, “There’s two men I want you to have in your life. First, a husband. Second, Richard Sigg.”
My mom could read a person like no other. And sure enough, Richard has proven invaluable over the years not only as a craftsman, but someone whose word could be taken at face value.
Richard, 59, died Saturday afternoon from injuries sustained in a car wreck down in Crawford County.
His handprint is all over Allen County through his business, Day Construction, which he took over from his father-in-law, Glen Day. He could build anything from the ground up, but also loved renovating and preserving old structures. On a recent look-see around the basement of First Presbyterian Church, Richard knew its wiring and plumbing to a T. “I put this all in 35 years ago for a renovation then,” he said. “No need to redo the cabinetry; it’s well-built. Could do with new doors, though.”
Richard was big on giving people second chances. His work crew would fluctuate not only as business demanded, but also as people’s circumstances either improved or faltered. As a master carpenter he served as a mentor to many young men now handy with a tool. No job was too small for Richard. And he gave each his very best effort.
He rarely got more specific than writing “Labor” and “Materials” on his bills. For those with a history of working with Richard, you knew he was always giving you a more than fair deal.
Besides carpentry, his other love was old cars. I’m thinking he should be buried with a hammer in one hand and an oil dipstick in the other.
Richard was a good soul. Besides a devoted husband to his wife, Pat, he was a good son, by evidence of when he and Pat took Richard’s mother, nearing 90 at the time, on a transcontinental railroad trip to British Columbia.
“It might not have been the smartest idea,” he said upon their return, “but it was for the most part fun. Mom loved it,” other than the fact that she fell ill mid-journey and had to be hospitalized.

RICHARD was a gentleman in workman’s clothes. He held open the door for you. His language was clean and simple. He was quick to laugh. He was compassionate for those less fortunate.
And he seemed to want for nothing.
Remembering all the good, helps blunt the pain. We were lucky to have had him in our midst.

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