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BORN
1932
DIED
2022
FUNERAL HOME
Richard Steel Obituary
Richard Ralph Steel, 89 passed away unexpectedly surrounded by family on April 29, 2022 at his home. Richard was born in Milwaukee on November 18, 1932 to Ralph and Ruth (Frame) Steel. He married June Marion Grabowski on October 1, 1955 in Milwaukee.
He served in United States Army during Korean War. Upon his honorable discharge he moved to Bayfield County to attend Northland College. After graduation from Northland, Richard was employed by John Deere Implement, Bayfield School District as a HS teacher and State of WI as a Probation and Parole Officer until his retirement in 1991. He served as Town Treasurer of Barksdale. He was a member of the Masonic Order #215 and the VFW Post #10197.
Dick enjoyed putting up firewood and caring for his home on the outskirts of Washburn along the shoreline of Lake Superior, firing up his beloved sauna, a favorite of family, friends, and neighbors. He enjoyed digging for antique bottles at the old Washburn dump and donated his collection which is now on display at the Washburn Cultural Center. He loved canoeing, boating, hunting with his sons at his "hunting shack", and passing along his love of downhill skiing to his family. Dick was safety conscious and enjoyed his volunteer work with the National Ski Patrol organization serving as a patroller at Mt. Ashwabay, Bayfield and Indianhead, Bessemer MI for nearly 50 years. During his years of retirement, he enjoyed traveling and skiing the western states with June and spending time with family.
Richard is survived by his wife June, son Robert, daughter Susan Tenpas, grandsons Tanner (Shelby) Tenpas, and Luke Tenpas, and family pet Maddie. He was preceded in death by his eldest son Daniel.
A celebration of life is being planned for October. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Mount Ashwabay's Ski Patrol.
Arrangements are at the Bratley Funeral Home in Washburn.
To view this obituary, leave an online condolence, or sign the guestbook please visit our website at www.bratleyfamilyfuneralhomes.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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Bratley Funeral Home - Washburn10 East Bayfield Street PO Box 518, Washburn, WI 54891
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