Richard George Breu passed peacefully on March 9 at the Aster Retirement Community in Marshfield, Wisconsin. He lived ninety-three fulfilling years. Richard was born in Marshfield in 1931 to Walter and Frances (Kolbeck) Breu. He grew up on a dairy farm and was educated at Hillside Elementary School in Auburndale, St. Michael's Catholic School in Hewitt, and Auburndale High School. At a young age, Richard demonstrated a penchant for caring for animals and owned his own sheep as a teen. He became smitten with Lorraine Schill at a dance in Rozellville, WI and they married at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Auburndale on May 20, 1952. The arrival of each of their four daughters was special, and he treasured his role as a father.

Richard was drafted in 1953 and served in the United States Army as a clerk typist in a medical depot. His first phone call ever was to Lorraine while stationed in France when he was twenty-one. After service in 1955, he and Lorraine purchased a dairy farm in the town of Auburndale. The couple were a great team, and their 210 acre dairy farm had well cared for animals and abundant crops. Richard provided custom sheep shearing, volunteered as a firefighter with the Auburndale Fire Department, served on Wood County's Agricultural Stabilization Committee, sold Renks seed corn, and was named the Marshfield Jaycees Outstanding Young Farmer in 1959 and received WSAU's Progressive Farmer Award in 1965. They retired in 1983 and built a home in the woods surrounded by ten acres of woodland. Richard and Lorraine returned to their hobby of square dancing. Richard loved his woods and created trails to snowmobile and four-wheel through the woods. He and Lorraine enjoyed playing cards, especially sheepshead, and belonged to a card club for over fifty years. In 2013, they downsized to an apartment in Marshfield until they moved to Aster Retirement Community last year. Richard continued to enjoy family gatherings and playing cards with friends at Marshfield's Community Center.

Richard was an involved community member. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Auburndale, Holy Name Society, an usher, and former President of St. Mary's Pastoral Council. Richard held offices in the Catholic Knights Branch 265 for thirty years. He worked at the Auburndale Recycling Center from 2002 to 2015 and enjoyed visiting with people utilizing the center.

A stone commemorating his service in the army (as well as daughter Janice's navy service) was laid at the High Ground in Neillsville in 2007 during a ceremony attended by family. In 2012, he was accompanied by his youngest daughter on the Honor Flight where he thoroughly enjoyed the war memorials and was touched by the overwhelming appreciation shown to veterans.

Richard loved his family. He entertained them with incredible true stories, jokes, yodeling, and impressive musical abilities on the trumpet, accordion, piano, and harmonica. His daughters fondly remember swims in the pond and early May walks in the woods to enjoy the spring flowers. It seemed he could identify any flower or tree in the woodland. He shared his love of hunting with many family members, especially his nephews from Hubertus. Richard was always interested in the activities of his family, and he eagerly attended their musical and sporting events. The grandkids were fans of his snowmobile and four-wheeler rides and took to driving them. His favorite food group was dessert, and he loved sharing desserts with family. Surely, he is now enjoying heavenly sweets. In 2024, a 72th wedding anniversary was celebrated with family.

Richard had a variety of outdoor interests and enjoyed nature. He loved fishing, hunting deer, walking in the woods, making firewood, planting trees, cooking maple syrup, and watching birds and forest animals. On hot summer evenings, he loved having family and friends gather at his large pond with diving board and sand beach. In 1984, he produced 72 gallons of maple syrup from the trees in his woods! He made blackberry wine from berries picked on his land. After retirement, he often logged 8,000 miles a year on his bike!

He will be missed most of all by his loving family, wife Lorraine and four daughters: Marla Hartley of Neillsville, and her children Ashley (Spencer) Hokanson and Brandon Hartley both of Minneapolis, Janice (Dale) Ladd of Neillsville, and their children Travis Ladd, Matthew Ladd, and Shannon Ladd, Sandra (Jerry) Stargardt of Marshfield, and their children Tyler (Kendra) Stargardt of Minneapolis) and Tiffany (Jake) Lenz of Marshfield, Tricia (Bill) Forbes of Wausau, and their children Morgan and Ethan, and two great-grandchildren Jace and Ava who gave him much joy.

Richard has joined family in heaven including his parents Walter and Frances Breu, in laws, Edward and Margaret Schill, his brother Wally A. Breu, brother-in-laws Marvin Schill, James Kraus, Art Schill, sister-in-law Janet Schill and son-in-law Todd Hartley.

Richard is also survived by four sister-in-laws and three brother-in-laws: Joan Breu of Hubertus, Irene Kraus of Janesville, Bernice (Ronald) McDermott of Milton, and Carol (Dan) Mancl of Wisconsin Rapids, Albert (Frances) Schill of Marshfield, Kenneth (Annette) Schill of Stratford, and LeRoy Schill of Hurley. There are many nieces and nephews in the area and in Hubertus who held a special place in his heart.

Richard was a loving husband, brother, father, grandfather, great grandpa, uncle, and father-in-law. Family and friends could tell you that Richard had a genuine interest in the well being of others and always offered encouragement. He will be missed by many and forever loved and remembered by his family. Lorraine and daughters offer their sympathies to those who knew him and thank them for the role they played in his life.

The family extends appreciation to the staff at Aster Retirement Community and to Dani, Paula, Alex, Britta, and Pam at St. Croix Hospice for their compassionate care. You are heroes. Additionally, the daughters would like to lift up the extraordinary care Lorraine has given to Richard recently.

A Mass of Christian Burial will occur on Saturday, March 15 at St. Mary's Church, 5856 Main Street, Auburndale. The visitation will occur from 9:00 AM-11:00 AM. The Mass will begin at 11:00 AM with Father Peter Raj and Father Irudayaraj Angi officiating. Music will be provided by Karen Isaacson and the church choir. The service will be streamed online at www.facebook.com/rembsfuneralhome. Rembs Funeral Home of Marshfield is assisting the family.