Richard William Anderschat

Retired Army Colonel Rick Anderschat, died on April 11, 2026 at the age of 84. He is survived by his daughter Lisa (Jim) Lockman, grand daughter Emma Lockman, and his son Tom (Jessica) Anderschat. He was preceded in death by his brother Michael and his parents, William and Sophie Anderschat of Riverside, Illinois and his loving wife of 52 years, Marcella "Marcy" (Bouwman) Anderschat. He is survived also by his brothers: Dr John Anderschat (Pamela Holden) of Silver Spring, MD and Paul Anderschat of Costa Rica/California.

After graduating from Fenwick High School in Oak Park, IL he studied pre-engineering at John Carroll University and then completed his engineering studies at the University of Detroit in Mechanical Engineering where he was also a Distinguished Military Graduate of the Reserve Officer Training Corps. He entered the Army to serve his military obligation in September 1964. After serving almost three years in Germany, he deployed to Vietnam in December 1967 and served as a company commander and the Operations Officer of the 864th Engineer Battalion (Const). Upon returning from Vietnam he earned a Master's Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1971 where he met and married his wife Marcy. After a deployment to Korea with the Second Infantry Division, he then taught Earth and Environmental Science at the US Military Academy, West Point, NY. Later he was chosen to be a Space Shuttle Facilities Project Manager at Headquarters NASA. He graduated from the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth KS in 1976 and the US Army War College at Carlisle Barracks PA in 1986. Other challenging assignments followed including command of the 559th Engineer Battalion in Hanau, Germany during the height of the Cold War.

He completed his military career as the Deputy Division Engineer and Deputy Commander of the Ohio River Division of the Corps of Engineers in Cincinnati (1986-1989). He then spent another 20 years working as a Consulting Engineer predominantly supporting the Department of Energy. His last work assignment was as a Consultant Project Manager for the MSD of Greater Cincinnati while employed by Burns and McDonnell Engineers until he retired a second time in May 2008.

A member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish for more than 30 years, he served as a Greeter for many years and was a member of Christ Renews His Parish Team #14. After his second retirement he became a regular at the Anderson Mercy Health Plex where he was known to his many friends as "Michigan Rick." He spent the latter years of his life working to gain recognition for other veterans of the Vietnam War.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, April 16, 11 AM at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church (7820 Beechmont Ave.) where family and friends will be received from 9:30 until time of mass.

In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial donations to: Disabled American Veterans: https://help.dav.org/page/66818/donate/1?ea.tracking.id=davweb_mainbutton, University of Michigan: https://giving.umich.edu/um/w/university-of-michigan-veterans-scholarship-fund-320247?keyword=Veterans, Knights of Columbus Bernardin Council: https://www.kofccouncil12359.org/ or 864 Engineer Battalion Alumni Association