Richard Heidenreich

RICHARD RUSSELL HEIDENREICH, age 94, passed away on Veteran's Day, November 11, 2025 in
Brookfield, WI. He was welcomed home in Heaven by the Lord Jesus Christ, as well as his beloved wife of 68 years, Darlene (nee Joslin).
Richard was born on March 6, 1931 in Charlotte, NC, the son of William and Katherine (nee Noyes)
Heidenreich but lived most of his life in the Racine, WI area.
Richard graduated from St. Catherine's High School in Racine before serving as a radar instructor in the
U. S. Marine Corps during the Korean War. He then returned to Racine, married Darlene in 1954, started a family and completed his Bachelor of Education degree at Dominican College and then his Master of Science in
Education degree at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Richard taught sixth grade, became a school principal and ultimately a school superintendent in Twin
Lakes, WI and then in Patch Grove, WI before retiring in 1990.
Richard ("Dick") and Darlene spent the next 28 years snow-birding to Florida each winter to relax and enjoy
the sunshine. Dick was an avid softball player (despite his famously crooked pinkie), playing simultaneously in
four diUerent senior leagues all the way until he was 88 years old. And that's in addition to golfing a few times each week and managing plenty of time to volunteer at church, visit friends, play cards and travel the world. One of their travel highlights was visiting Israel where they stood at the birthplace of Jesus. Richard's Catholic faith was of utmost importance in his life, along with his steadfast commitment to his family life.
When in Wisconsin each summer, Dick had a huge garden and he always shared whatever he produced.
It's just who he was. The world lost a man who was the family patriarch; teaching right from wrong, sharing his
knowledge about every topic on the planet, and displaying to everyone how much he valued his family... blood
family, found family, adopted family, it didn't matter to him. He supported everyone in their successes, but also
uplifted them in their down times. He will be sorely missed.
Survivors include five children: Daniel (Lifen) Renheidenreich of Coventry, RI, Jean Moore of Greenfield, WI,
Kathryn (Lawrence) Hobbs of Williams Bay, WI, Patricia Fisher of Wauwatosa, WI, and David (Patricia) Heidenreich of Fontana, WI; 13 grandchildren: Anthony (Rui) Heidenreich, Ret. Colonel Avery (Steven) Schutt, Julie Ren, Austin (Heather) Moore, Tyler (Amanda) Moore, Ashley Hobbs, Eric (Jennifer) Hobbs, Hannah (Anthony) Sylvester, Jonathan Fisher, Rachel (Tyler) Perona, Michael (Kayla) Heidenreich, Jack Heidenreich and Lucas Heidenreich; and 12 great-grandchildren: Mackenzie, Troy, Leila, Evette, Wade, Eloise, Evan, Josephine, Eve, Franklin, Jun, and Delilah. Richard is additionally survived by his sister, Joan Duratny of Fallbrook, CA, brother-in-law Bob Everson of Oregon, WI and brother-in-law Ken (Linda) Joslin of Joliet, IL. Richard was preceded in death by siblings Kenneth William Heidenreich, James Heidenreich, Robert Heidenreich, George (Bernice) Heidenreich, Janet (Dennis) Cranley, Karen Everson, Laura Lee Adams-Frees, Dorothy Shumway and brother-in-law Paul Duratny.
In honoring his request, Richard was cremated and will be interred along with his wife Darlene at the
Southern Wisconsin Veteran's Memorial Cemetery, 21731 Spring St, Union Grove, WI on Friday, December 5, 2025. Friends and family are invited to attend his memorial mass at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church (3320 S. Colony Ave, Union Grove, WI) at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, Dec 5th and a luncheon will immediately follow the mass. At 2:00 p.m. all are invited to the interment ceremony.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight Program.
www.starsandstripeshonorflight.org