Obit: Wright, Richard J. Sr. (1937 - 2015)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Anzia, Bruggink, Circo, Detert, Geib, Lampien, Reinertson, Richison, Scheer, Stanke, Willger, Wright

----Source: The Star News (Medford, WI) 6/18/2015

Wright, Richard J. Sr. (21 APR 1937 - 15 JUN 2015)

Town of Molitor resident Richard J. Wright Sr., 78, died on Monday, June 15, after a long battle with a rare degenerative brain disease, at his residence where he was surrounded by his loved ones and under the care of Hope Hospice.

Funeral services will take place at 12 p.m. on Monday, June 22 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Whittlesey with Father Gerard Willger officiating. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until time of services at 12 p.m. on Monday, June 22 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

Hemer Funeral Service of Medford and Rib Lake assisted the family with arrangements.
Richard was born on April 21, 1937 in Milwaukee to the late Harley O. and Sophia B. (Reinertson) Wright.

His first marriage to Bonita M. Stanke took place on July 26, 1958 in Neshkoro, and they were later divorced. His second marriage to Barbara J. Anzia, who survives, took place on June 15, 1979 in Fond du Lac.

Richard served in the Wisconsin National Guard at Fort McCoy. After high school, he graduated from MATC’s Tool & Die Maker Program. He then worked at Wells Manufacturing Company in Fond du Lac. Richard then moved to Medford in 1981 and worked for Phillips Plastics as a tool, die and mold maker. He later became a project engineer for Fiskars in Wausau where he retired from in 2000. In his retirement, he did consulting work for several companies. Richard enjoyed golfing, sailing, canoeing, traveling, carpentry, history, the Green Bay Packers, and he loved spending time with his family.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by children, Mary (Mark) Scheer of Oshkosh, Ramona (Craig) Geib of Van Dyne, Richard Jr. (Joan) Wright of Menasha, Cathy (Richard) Circo of Fond du Lac, Christopher (Patti) Bruggink of Medford, Michael Bruggink of Tomahawk and one four-legged child “Baby”; 13 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren; sisters, Lyda Detert of Fond du Lac and Elizabeth Lampien of Seaside, OR; sister-in-law, Kathryn Richison of Athelstane; brothers-in-law, Michael (Sandy) Anzia of West Bend and Paul (Judy) Anzia of Belgium. Richard is further survived by many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by seven brothers.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in Richard’s name to Hope Hospice or to his family to be designated at a later date.

For online condolences, please visit www.hemerfuneralservice.com .