Richard R. Fayram
CROSS PLAINS–Richard Roberts Fayram, 73, of Cross Plains, passed away on Feb. 10, 2022 at home surrounded by family following a two year challenge with neuroendocrine tumors. He was born in Flint, MI, the son of Jerome and Gwen Fayram. He married Elizabeth Stockwell on June 19, 1971. They had two sons, Nathan and Justin.
Dick attended the University of Michigan where he met Liz. He earned a BS in Landscape Architecture at Michigan State and did graduate work at UW-Madison. He worked as a Landscape Architect at firms in the Chicago area, Rockford, and at UW-Madison. He was proud of his work on the Rockford Sportscore Complex and the UW Campus Master Plan. His landscape designs often featured native plants.
Dick, Liz and the young boys moved from Rockford, joining Dick’s brother David and his family in Madison. Gwen joined them there after she retired. Many events, holidays and family dinners were spent together.
Dick was involved with the boys’ activities, including coaching soccer and scouts. Dick enjoyed teaching the scouts outdoor skills, woodworking, and maple syrup production. He enjoyed many trips with the boys and other scouts camping, backpacking and canoeing. A favorite was paddling through the Boundary Waters.
Many vacations were spent with the boys at Liz’s parents’ cottage on a lake in Michigan. Dick and Liz’s favorite trips included Alaska, the Smoky Mountains, Italy, Greece, and a Rotary exchange trip to Chile. A favorite family tale is of Dick being hit by a bus in Mexico City while on a trip with David.
Dick and Liz enjoyed hosting many groups and were long time members of a gourmet club. Dick was a prolific communicator, and friends enjoyed his weekly emails, often summoning them to gather at the end of the week. Many Friday evenings were spent at the Union Terrace having a beer with friends. A group trekked across frozen Lake Mendota annually for 18 years to celebrate the winter season.
Dick had many hobbies: making hard cider and wine, smoking brisket, growing pumpkins for pies, hiking, skiing, and playing soccer into his 50s. He especially enjoyed cycling on the hills outside Cross Plains and attending Concerts on the Square. Dick was known for constantly improving the landscaping and gardens around every house they owned. Upon moving to Cross Plains, he and Nate planted a prairie in the back yard. Dick built raised beds for Liz, and they enjoyed growing fruits and vegetables together.
Community involvement included the Dane County YMCA, Downtown Madison Rotary, and the UW-Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Parent Advisory Group. Dick and Liz hosted 15 annual apple cider pressing festivals in their backyard. The cider fests raised funds for the Fayram Family and Friends Children’s Cancer Fund established to help families with children undergoing treatment.
Since high school, Dick photographed and painted pictures of nature. Each year he made his latest painting into the family Christmas card. Dick painted many watercolors featuring snow, shadows, and winter landscapes. He made handmade wood frames and furniture. His art has been displayed in shows in Wisconsin and Illinois.
Dick is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, sons Nathan (Jessica) and Justin (Kassey), brother David (Marilyn), nephew Andy (Sarah) and children Isaac, Nessa and Hazel, niece Abbie (Craig) and children Ardyn and Cole, brother-in-law Jerry (Barb), sister-in-law Linda (Ron) plus many friends.
A Celebration of Life will be held on March 5, 2022 at Cress Funeral Service, 6021 University Ave, Madison, WI. Visitation will be from 10-12. Service will be at 12 noon with lunch following. To join the livestream, please use the following link: https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony/?c=c24c8264-2c41-4b00-9...
In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to the Fayram Family and Friends Children’s Cancer Fund, payable to UW Foundation, US Bank Lockbox, Box 78807, Milwaukee, WI 53278-0807.
He was a talented man, a wonderful husband and father, and a true friend to many. He will be missed.
Please share your memories at cressfuneralservice.com.
