Vilas "Bun" Richards, age 89, passed away peacefully on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026 at the Pines in Prairie du Sac.  He was born Dec. 8, 1936 to the late Ralph and Adeline (Jenewein) Richards.  He grew up in Blackhawk, where he attended through the eighth grade and stayed to work on the farm allowing his sisters to go on to school.  Vilas later enlisted in the U.S. Army serving as a Marksman earning his Expert Rifle; he was fortunate to also attend his Badger Honor Flight in April 2017.

Vilas was united in marriage to Diane Kout on Apr. 14, 1959; she preceded him in death on Sept. 19, 2012.  Together they raised their 4 children near Sauk City and spending their time in Blackhawk on the Four "R's ranch, where they had their own zoo of animals.  They raised steers, feed chicks and peacocks and loved their beagles.  Vilas started work as auto mechanic in Sauk City at the Consumers Coop and later purchased and ran the dog food factory west of Sauk City to be closer to home.  He then went on to start Richards Sanitation and Septic Service, he served customers for over 30 years before he went on to work at McFarlanes for a few years before easing into retirement.

Vilas loved the outdoors, turkey and whitetail hunting; and trap shoots on Sundays.  He was an avid shooter, served on some of the local club's board of directors and often shooting at all the local club events including the Badger State Games; and most recently earned an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Wisconsin River Sportsman Club, something he was very proud of.  He and Diane enjoyed their time spent traveling, their family events and long weekends at their spot on Castle Rock Lake at Dellwood.  After Diane passed, Vilas was fortunate enough to spend his time with his friend, Gracie Roemer.  They enjoyed UTV-ing the backroads and trails.  Daily drives looking for the white deer and trips to Florida in the winter until she passed in 2022.

Vilas is survived by his children, Rick (Sandy) Richards, Randy (Kim) Richards, and daughters; Renee (Ron) Eichmann and Rhonda (Mark) Pierick; 5 grandchildren, Danielle (Josh) Wilhelm, Corey (Kaydee) Eichmann, Joseph Eichmann, Kyle (Geena) Carlson, Krystal (Tyler) Martin; 6 great grandchildren, Dominick, Parker, Aria, Kole, Caroline, and Lewis.  He is further survived by a special nephew, Randy Redfield; nieces, Vicki Yanke and Jackie Hetzel; and many other nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

In addition to his parents and wife, Diane; Vilas was preceded in death by an infant son; grandson, Ronald Eichmann; siblings, Fauhn (Vern "Uncle Bum") Dickens, Romelda (Cam) Redfield, Juanita (Vern) Dorr- Kuehn and special friend, Gracie Roemer.

Vilas' family would like to express their gratitude to the staff and caregivers at the Pines and Pines Memory Care unit and to Agrace Hospice for their care of Vilas.

A visitation for Vilas will be held on Thursday, Feb.5th from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm at Hooverson Funeral Home, 251 Water St., Sauk City where Military Honors will be accorded for Vilas at 4:00 pm by the Lachmund-Cramer VFW Post 7694.  A celebration of his life will follow the Military Honors at the Dorf Haus, 8931Cty Hwy Y, Roxbury.  Interment will be held in the St. Aloysius Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Wisconsin River Sportsmen's Club, 10041 County Hwy Y, Mazomanie, WI 53560 to be distrubuted to local youth shooting programs.