Richard Hallett of Utica, whose public service career in La Salle County abruptly ended 21 years ago after a stroke, died Monday morning at the La Salle Healthcare Center in La Salle.

A longtime County Board member whose colleagues twice elected him to serve as board president, Hallett was in his first term as county treasurer when a crippling stroke from which he never recovered required his retirement from public life.

"He was a man of integrity, dedicated to his life as a public servant — and he truly cared for the residents of La Salle County," his daughter, Renee Sheth of La Salle, told The Times.

Born in Utica on Christmas Eve in 1932, Hallett was a graduate of La Salle-Peru High School and then served in the Air Force as an aircraft mechanic during the time of the Korean Conflict.

"Basically, once he came back from the Air Force, public service became his whole life," said Sheth. "I always remember him running for one thing or the other."

He served as the president of the Utica School Board and supervisor of Utica Township before starting his career on the County Board where he ended up as board chairman.

"I knew Dick very well and worked with him," former La Salle County State"s Attorney Gary Peterlin of Oglesby told The Times.

"Dick was really enthusiastic about county government. Every day when he came to work he was really energized. That"s how I remember him sitting behind his County Board chairman"s desk. You could go into him with new ideas. He was always willing to be involved, to help you and to look at new things and new ways to get things done."

Peterlin said Hallett enjoyed both politics and the camaraderie of being with the other County Board members.

"He was a consensus builder. He could bring people together and get them to cooperate and get things done."

He had that ability in spite of being, Sheth said, "a pretty staunch Republican."

Hallett has been retired long enough that the entire County Board has turned over since his time.

"I met him a couple of times at outdoor picnics in Utica," said Ken Stockley, R-Earlville, now the County Board"s senior member.

"Everyone knew him but me. But, as I recall, he was well known and well liked by all of the older board members."

Sheth said for the past 21 years her father had been under the care of his wife, Elaine, another Utica native.

"They knew each other from childhood and started dating after he got back from the service."

The Halletts had two daughters, Sheth and Jolene Atkinson of Utica.

"The greatest gift he gave to us as a family is the love he shared with our mother. They just celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary on Nov. 5. You don"t see that too often anymore."

Peterlin said he visited Hallett from time to time.

"It was kind of tough seeing him. His mind was sharp and he could laugh, but he couldn"t talk much because of the stroke."

But Hallett was independent enough that he regularly could take his wheelchair the few blocks from his home on Hitt Street across the Illinois and Michigan Canal bridge to Joy and Ed"s Supper Club on Mill Street for morning coffee.

"He loved to do that because he always loved to see the guys and all that stuff," said Sheth.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Burgess Funeral Home in Utica. Visitation also will be Thursday from 9 a.m. until funeral services start at 10 a.m. Hallett will be buried in Oakhill Cemetery in Utica.