Richard “Dick” Joseph Drogosz, 84, of Freeport, IL passed away Wednesday September 27, 2023 at Ascension Living Saint Joseph Village with his family by his side. He was born March 18, 1939 in Chicago, IL, the son of Francis and Estelle (Matuch) Drogosz. Dick grew up in the city of Chicago and attended St. Mel’s High School for Boys. He went on to college in Winona, Minnesota, where he met Marianne Doran. He was a 1961 graduate of St. Mary’s College and the Illinois Institute of Technology. On August 18, 1962 he married his college sweetheart Marianne in Chicago.
Dick’s professional career was highlighted by 38 years at Honeywell International, a Fortune 100 company. He began as a production engineer in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Through the years his responsibilities increased as his titles changed, and he worked his way up to management positions within production management, marketing, and international business. Much of his work included traveling throughout the United States to create a network that proved invaluable to the company. During his tenure at Honeywell, Dick worked and travelled both internationally and domestically throughout the US, Europe, Japan, China, Singapore, South America, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand. He and his family had the good fortune to reside in Bloomington, Minnesota; Waterloo, Belgium; Denver, Colorado; and finally Freeport, IL. After 38 years, Dick retired in 2000.
Family was very important to Dick and he found great joy in coaching multiple little league teams for all of his kids during their youth. Dick was an avid golfer, playing courses worldwide. His memberships and affiliations included the Union League Club of Chicago, Midwest Bank Board, Freeport Hospital Network Board, St. Thomas Aquinas Church Pastoral Council, United Way of Northwest Illinois, The Freeport Community Foundation, San Miguel Schools, and Vision 20/20.
He received a Distinguished Alumnus Award from his alma mater St. Mary’s University and a Lifetime Leadership Award from the Greater Freeport Business Community.
Dick is survived by his wife Marianne; four children, daughter Susan (Tom) Lefaivre and their sons Kevin and Ryan Lefaivre, son Richard “Rick” (Liz) Drogosz and their children Jessica, Abby, Hannah (Chris) Montez-daughter June, and Emma (Solus) Ferreira-daughter Zahria, son William “Bill” (Lai) Drogosz, and daughter Nancy Drogosz and her sons Jack and Vince Fetsch.
He is preceded in death by his parents, son John (September 30, 2010), grandson John “Jack” Drogosz (July 30, 2022), and his older sister Charlene (Tom) Hassell (November 2021).
A memorial mass will be held at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday October 10, 2023 at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Freeport with Father Peter Snieg officiating. A visitation will be held from 9:30 A.M. until the time of mass at church. Burial of cremated remains will be in Calvary Cemetery in Freeport.
Donations in Dick’s memory can be made to The Freeport Community Foundation John M. Drogosz Youth Substance Abuse Prevention/Treatment Memorial Fund.
