Dr. Richard “Spike” Herz passed away peacefully at Silverado Northshore on March 12, 2024.
Richard was born on May 6th, 1932 in East Friesland Germany and raised in Hornell, NY. An orthodontist for nearly 50 years, Spike made beautiful smiles in Kenosha, Racine and Waterford. He immersed himself in the community and could be seen walking all over Kenosha, no matter the weather.
Over the years he served on the boards of the Kenosha County Welfare Department, Kenosha County Aging and Disability Resource Center, Kenosha County Dental Society, Kenosha Town Club, Carthage College’s Advisory Committee for the Division of Interdisciplinary Studies and Boy Scouts of America – where he mentored Eagle Scout candidates. In retirement, he was an active Rotarian, Kenosha Dinosaur Museum volunteer and delivered Meals on Wheels.
In addition to practicing in Kenosha, Racine and Waterford, he taught in the dental schools of the University of Michigan, Saint Louis University and the University of Chicago where he was the chair of the Cleft Palate team. It was with this team and his good friend, Ted Kyriazes, which took his work to South America, Lithuania and Africa to operate on children with clefts.
He was an avid traveler, hunter, private pilot and never left an antique shop empty handed.
His wife, Nadine, preceded him. He is survived by his children: Gretchen (Bill) Burns, Karl Herz, Heidi (Kevin) Berry and Eric Herz. He loved spending time with his grandchildren: Karl (Marcy) Burns, Elise (Bryan) Ferguson, Adrianna (John) Jakob, Nicholas Berry, Louis, Martin and Simon Herz. Spike was a proud great-grandfather to Jack, George and James Ferguson and Elle Burns.
Special thanks to the wonderful staff of Silverado Northshore and Moments Hospice for their exceptional and tender care over the past nine months.
A celebration of his extraordinary life well lived will take place May 17, 2024, at the Kenosha Country Club from 1:00-5:00 p.m.
Memorial gifts may be made in his honor to Shalom Center-4314 39th Avenue, Kenosha, WI 53144.
