Richard E. "Rich" Taake, 72, of Collinsville, Ill., born Nov. 3, 1940, in Collinsville, Ill., died suddenly on Monday, Feb. 11, 2013, at Anderson Hospital in Maryville, Ill.

Mr. Taake was a graduate of Collinsville High School and a 1982 graduate of SIU--Edwardsville. He had retired from the Collinsville Postal Service and was a U.S. Army veteran. He was a member of Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus and Collinsville Historical Museum where he was also the treasurer. He was an avid NASCAR fan. He was a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather. He will be remembered for the kindness he showed to all who had the good fortune of knowing him.

He will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by his father, Everett Taake; mother, Mary, nee Welle, Taake; loving step mother, Margaret, nee Higgins, Taake; and mother-in-law, June, nee Davis, Tope.

Surviving are his wife, Karen Renee, nee Tope, Taake of Collinsville, Ill.; daughter, Katy (Ted) Gayford of Edwardsville, Ill.; granddaughter, Sadie Gayford of Edwardsville, Ill.; sister and brother, Marilyn Neu of Belleville, Ill., and James (Paula) Taake of Caseyville, Ill.; nephews, Dusty and Brady Page of O'Fallon, Ill.; sister-in-law, Kelly (Keith) Page of O'Fallon, Ill.; and father-in-law, Howard A. Tope of Highland, Ill.

Memorials may be made to Collinsville Historical Museum. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.herrfuneral.com.

Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013, at Herr Funeral Home in Collinsville, Ill.

Friends may also call from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013, at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Collinsville, Ill.

Funeral: Service will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013, at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Collinsville, Ill., with Father John Beveridge and the Rev. Greg Pratt officiating. Interment in Sunset Hill Memorial Estates in Glen Carbon, Ill.