A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday for Richard "Dick" Tangeman. He passed away March 26, 2017, in Port Charlotte, Fla. He was 84.

A few years back Dick expressed a wish that his obituary read as follows: "He was born, he lived a life that was extremely full and passed away a very happy man because he was married to a wonderful lady who always gave him the freedom to be himself."

Richard J. (Dick) Tangeman was born October 19, 1932 in Dayton, Ohio to Mr. and Mrs. Julian J. and Mildred Mae (Kofroth) Tangeman. He attended Holy Angels Elementary School where he was an altar boy as well a member of the noted Holy Angels Boys Choir. In 1944 the family moved to Farmersville, Ohio where Dick attended the Farmersville Public School System and in High School lettered for all four years in baseball and basketball. Dick graduated high school in 1951 followed by a year at the University of Dayton where he earned a varsity letter in baseball during his freshman year. He also played on several semi-pro baseball teams in and around the Dayton Area prior to enlisting in the U.S. Navy in July of 1952. Basic training was in Bainbridge, Maryland, followed by Airman Preparatory School at the Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida, and attended Aviation Machinist School in Memphis, Tenn. During his stay in Memphis, Dick played for the Station Baseball Team which was the equivalent of "A" Ball in professional leagues, with an approximate 75 game schedule. His next duty station was at the Airship Experimental Center, Naval Air Station, Lakehurst, NJ where again Dick played for the Station Baseball Team as well as flying in blimps as an air crewman. In 1954 he was stationed at the Patuxent Naval Air Station with heavy attack Squadron Seven. This Squadron was equipped with the AJ-2 type aircraft which was the U.S. Navy's first carrier-based aircraft capable of carrying nuclear weapons with an additional capability of providing inflight refueling for fighter type aircraft. During his service with this squadron, they were assigned a six month attachment with the six fleet in the Mediterranean and Port Leauty. During this deployment, the squadron was assigned aboard the carriers USS Lake Champlain and the USS Ticonderoga with Leauty as the land base. Returning to the States in December of 1955, the squadron was assigned to the naval air station in Sanford, Florida. In February 1956 the squadron was sent aboard the USS Forestal for the shakedown cruise. Dick was honorably discharged in July of 1956 and returned to Pennsylvania where he attended Penn State University prior to being employed at the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company in the new Flakeboard Division in Tyrone, PA. In 1965 Dick entered the travel industry, working for the Batcheler Educational Field Trip, Inc. of Tyrone, PA. This company handled tours for High School students to Washington, D.C., New York City, Montreal, Quebec and numerous other areas. In 1970, Dick joined the Bortner Bus and Tour Company as the Director of the Multi-Day Tour Division. In the 27 years with Bortners, Dick directed and traveled with tours and cruises throughout all fifty states, all of the Provinces of Canada, throughout the Caribbean and Mexico. In addition to directing the tours, Dick was also responsible for the publishing of the annual tour brochure.

In 1984, Dick married Catherine (Cathy) F. Schuffert of New Castle, PA and they resided on Fairbrook Way in Sharpsville. Retiring in 1997, Dick worked at the Tam-O-Shanter Golf Course and for a while as a bank courier for First National Bank in Hermitage. He was an ardent fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, enjoyed golfing and fishing. Dick and his wife traveled extensively with trips to South Africa, Italy, Switzerland, China and many cruises. In 2004 he and his wife purchased a winter home in North Port, FL, welcoming their many friends and family to visit. Dick will be remembered for his jokes, laughter and generosity. He loved to organize parties, golf trips, cruises and flying trips for family, friends and neighbors. He and his wife enjoyed life to its fullest. He was especially proud of his hole in one at No. 2 hole at Tam-O-Shanter and teaching his wife to golf, his favorite competition.

He will be missed by his boys, Bogey and Andy, his pet black poodles, whom he spoiled and loved, his nephew and niece, John and Paula Bonfig, who lived nearby in Florida and spent many happy days with their Uncle Dick; and his nephew and niece Helmut and Susan Kraus, godson Zackery and nephews Andrew and Nathan who were frequent visitors and made many happy memories in both Pennsylvania and Florida.

He is survived by his wife and best friend of 33 years, Cathy Schuffert Tangeman, and his children: Richard (Rick) Tangeman and Toni Tangeman of Altoona, PA; Terri Orolin and Joe Orolin, Battle Creek, MI; Jim Tangeman and Marge Tangeman, Tyrone, PA; John Tangeman, Tabuco Canyon, CA; Tammy and Jim Moyer, Port Matilda, PA. He is also survived by a brother, David and Ann Tangeman, Hackettstown, NJ and two sisters: Jodi Guilfoyle, Akron, OH and Julie Mary Tangeman, Harrison Twp, MI. and 12 grandchildren, three great grandsons, one great granddaughter and many nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Julian and Mildred Tangeman; a brother, Daniel Tangeman and sisters Rosemary Bonfig and Julienne Tangeman.

A Celebration of Life is being held at 1:00 p.m. Sunday ( 7-2-2017 ) in J. BRADLEY McGONIGLE FUNERAL HOME and CREMATORY Inc., 1090 E. State St., Sharon.

Calling hours are from noon until time of service in the funeral home.

Military honor's will be rendered by the Hickory VFW Honor Guard immediately preceding the service.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests a memorial contribution be made to Buhl Park, 715 Hazen Road, Hermitage, PA.