Richard James Weir

Richard James Weir, husband, father, and grandfather extraordinaire, passed away on February 11, 2022, at the age of 92. Richard’s heart was always filled with gratitude and joy for the rich and happy life he enjoyed with his bride, Clara Ann Schmit, and their family.

Richard was born in Indiana, but called the East Side of Milwaukee and Shorewood home for most of his life. He knew the city like the back of his hand and had a deep understanding of the city’s history. He was an active member of Saint Robert Parish and was proud of the cumulative 64 years his children attended school there and the 40 years Clara volunteered in the school library. He was also a long-time volunteer for the Lake Park Fourth of July Celebration.

Richard was a life-long bibliophile who delighted in sharing and discussing books from his library. For every birthday and Christmas, he and Clara would select and send books as gifts to their children and grandchildren. Richard also shared his love of Milwaukee and learning with his grandchildren whom he took on many trips to the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Milwaukee Public Museum, Discovery World, the County Zoo, Lake Park, and UWM’s map library. No visit was complete without a walk around UWM’s campus, the Downer Woods, or his favorite fountain. Later in life, he and Clara became fans of the UWM Women’s Volleyball team and enjoyed attending classes at the university’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

Richard was a printing sales executive for most of his career. He retired as Vice President of Wetzel Brothers. He was an innovator and creator who held multiple patents and developed games and toys.

In addition to Clara, Richard is survived by eight children, Joseph, Edward (Donna), William (Kate), David (Tiffany), Nancy (Mark Weyna), Patricia (John Love), Susan (Tom Rosen), and Robert; 17 grandchildren, Jack, Ailish, James, Georgia, Colleen, John, Nicholas, Mary, Thomas, Brian, Daniel, Sylvia, Alisia, Michael, Juliette, Charles, and Anna; and three great-grandchildren, Eleanor, Genevieve, and Bernadette. He is also survived by his brother Jeffery (Maggie) and his family. He was preceded in death by his father, Joseph, and his mother, Velma.

A Memorial Visitation will be held on Saturday, February 19, 2022, from 11:30AM - 12:45PM at St. Robert Church. Eulogies will begin just prior to Mass of Christian Burial at 1:00 p.m. Donations in Richard’s name may be made to St. Robert School, Shorewood, Wisconsin.