Richard Albert Dahnke

1934 - 2023

Richard Albert Dahnke
2/9/34-2/17/23
Palmdale -
Rick Dahnke of Palmdale, California, passed away on February 17, 2023 at the age of 89. He was born in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin to Albert and Lillie Mae Dahnke on February 9, 1934. Growing up in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, Rick and his seven siblings grew up tinkering with engines and motors of all types.

In April 1953 he married Marianne Reddy and they enlisted in the military during the Korean War. Rick was deployed as an Air Force mechanic, and he developed a lifelong passion for all airplanes. They had two children, Sheri and Ricky.

Rick had many different jobs including making snow mobiles and providing maintenance for banks and laundromats. After arriving in California with his second wife, Nancy, and daughter, Michelle, he drove a truck for Cal Gas delivering propane in the Antelope and Santa Clarita Valleys until his retirement.

He was preceded in death by parents (Lillie Mae and Albert Dahnke), siblings (Gilbert, Fred, Evelyn, Margaret, Charles, Vera and Henry), Wife (Nancy) and son (Ricky). He is survived by daughters, Sheri and Michelle, eight grandchildren (Adam, Ashley, Cheyenne, Jeremiah, Jordan, Krista, Michael, and Shawn), many great grandchildren, nieces and nephews in Minnesota and his California family: Judy, Christa (Steve), Jodi (Kenneth), David, Sara, Steven, and Rachel.

A California memorial will be held on March 18 at 11 am at Valencia Hills Community Church with refreshments to follow. A Wisconsin memorial will be planned at a later date upon interment in LaValle, Wisconsin in the Dahnke family cemetery.