Dr. Richard Peter Chaille DVM

Dr. Richard Peter Chaille, DVM used up the last of his nine lives and entered heaven on August 1, 2024. Rick enjoyed a beautiful summer surrounded by family, and we are comforted knowing that he was able to spend time with all of his favorite people doing the things he loved most before he passed. Rick was born to John and Mildred Chaille on April 27, 1954, at St. John’s Hospital in Anderson, IN, the youngest of five children. He graduated from Anderson High School in 1972, then attended Purdue University, where he earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1978. Rick opened Broadway Veterinary Clinic in Anderson in 1985 and lovingly cared for many four-legged friends until he sold his practice in 2010. Not one to sit still, retirement didn’t last long. Rick opened Columbus Veterinary Services and dog park in 2018 in Columbus, IN, and had his second go-round at starting a thriving veterinary practice. He continued to work until his Parkinson’s disease told him it was time to stop. Rick married his sweetheart, Jean (Laughlin) on June 4, 1977, and began their 47-year adventure together. Highlights along the way included Chaille family vacations to Kentucky Lake, Virgin Gorda, Grand Canyon rafting, a Chevy Suburban tour of 9 national parks, Quetico canoeing, touring France and Germany, sailing the Virgin Islands, and most importantly working together to rear five wonderful children. In 1988 the Chaille family went in with the Jim Laughlin family to purchase a cottage on Grandview Lake, and Rick and family spent many wonderful weekends and summers on the water making memories before permanently moving there in 2018. In his day, Rick was an avid slalom skier, co-founder of the Sunrise Ski Club, and he loved to barefoot ski. He was patient and encouraging as a ski instructor, first with his children and all of their friends, and later in life teaching his eleven grandkids to waterski, tube, and master many other watersports - always with the mantra “one more try, you almost got it.” In addition to water skiing, Rick was a dedicated kayaker, getting out on the water most mornings before the sun came up to enjoy the magnificent Grandview sunrises, and he would often take a photo of the sunrise and send it out to his friends as a reminder to live every day to the fullest. He loved to tend his garden, and he drove Jean a little crazy with his constant landscaping projects and hydrodynamic engineering. He will be remembered as someone who always had to be on the move or leading an activity, had a penchant for midnight sweets, and was also something of a prankster. Most of all, he will be remembered as someone who would always go out of his way to be kind and generous to everyone he met. Rick was a fiercely proud father and grandfather. He and Jean raised their children in a loving Catholic home and taught the value of hard work, honesty, humor, and being able to see the “big picture.” He will always be “Papa Wolf” to his kids. We remember how he loved and sacrificed for us, and we will always try to live up to the example he set. Rick is survived by his wife, Jean, and their five children - Megan Chaille (Andrew Schlabach), Matt Chaille (Erin), Tara Bouis (Sasha), Jack Chaille (Sarah), and J.R. Chaille (Justine) along with 11 grandchildren; Mya, Calvin, Samuel, Greta, Caroline, Jonathan, Fiona, Norah, Alexandra, Penelope, and Isabel. In addition to his children and grandchildren, Rick is survived by his brothers Tom (Penny), Jim, and Bruce (Tiffany), his sister Patricia Eckstein, his brothers-in-law James Laughlin (Catherine) and Jeffrey Laughlin (Leslie), many Chaille and Laughlin nieces and nephews, his best friend Lani Czarniecki (Debbie), his beloved dog Beans, and his Kubota. The family would like to say an extra special thank you to Samantha Greenlee, his caregiver and general mischief buddy, who brought Rick so much happiness and the rest of us peace of mind. Another special thanks to Dr. and Mrs. Larry Blankenship who took excellent care of him throughout his Parkinson’s disease journey. And finally, a big thanks to his Rock Steady Boxing Family who encouraged him to stay strong and keep moving. Visitation will be held at 9:00 am on August 17th at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Nashville, IN, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00am. A celebration of life gathering will take place in the lower level of the church immediately following the mass. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to: St. Agnes Catholic Church, 1008 McLary Road, Nashville, IN 47448 or Purdue’s College of Veterinary Medicine either online at: https://connect.purdue.edu/INMEMORYOFRICHARDCHAILLE Or by check payable to Purdue Foundation, Gift Processing, PO Box 772401, Detroit, MI 48277-2401. Memo: in memory of Dr. Richard Chaille

Dr. Richard Peter Chaille DVM

April 27, 1954 - August 1, 2024