Richard J. Meilahn

Richard J. Meilahn, 72, of the Town of Mitchell went peacefully into the Lords arms early Saturday morning, June 10, 2017 at the Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice Center. Richard was born on January 20, 1945 in Sheboygan a son to the late Carl and Edna (Reinke) Meilahn. He lived his entire lifetime on the family homestead in the Town of Mitchell. He attended Waldo and Parnell Grade schools and Waldo High School. Although he wished to graduate from Waldo High School he could not because of its closing in 1962. He graduated from Plymouth High School in 1963. Following graduation he helped on the family farm and worked for Farmco in Waldo. He enlisted and served four years in the US Air Force from January 1965 until October of 1968. Serving during the Vietnam War he was stationed in Thailand from December 1966 until December 1967. After his discharge from the service he attended Lakeshore Technical College for 2 years and also worked part time at Kohler Company. In 1979 he started driving milk truck for Dave Schaefer of Kewaskum and in the early 1990s went over the road trucking with Tenissen Logistics of Cedar Grove and Transpo of Sheboygan. He retired in 2006. Rich was a lifelong member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Cascade, a member of the American Legion Post 0386 of Cascade, the VFW Post 5612 of Plymouth, AARP, the Wisconsin Polka Boosters and the Maggie Mae Fan Club. He loved and was proud of this German heritage, enjoyed country music, polka dancing in his younger years and any German Fest no matter where it was. His hobbies included golfing, deer hunting and following Maggie Mae. Rich was an avid Packer fan from the 1950s until the present, a Wisconsin Badger fan, Brewers fan and Bucks fan. In younger years he played in softball leagues. He thoroughly enjoyed to socialize and tell stories for hours and hours. He would help anyone in need, had a great sense of humor and would tease anybody! He had a love for animals especially dogs and cats. He thought the world of his two nephews, Brent and Kyle Figard (his godson). He was a super uncle. Richard is survived by his two sisters, Marilyn (Bob "Guppy") Gephart of the Town of Mitchell and Judy (Bob "Cat") Kolvenbach of the Town of Plymouth; two nephews, Brent (Joni) Figard of Los Angeles, CA and Kyle Figard of Plymouth; a great nephew and great niece Aiden and Aubrey Figard of Los Angeles; seven cousins and many friends. Along with his parents he was preceded in death by five cousins, many aunts and uncles, several friends and his canine buddies Jake and Bruno. A funeral service for Richard will be held 11:30 AM, Wednesday, June 14 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Cascade with Pastor Richard Bidinger officiating. Burial with military rites accorded will be in St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Cemetery, Cascade. Family and friends may gather at the church, 509 Milwaukee Ave., Cascade on Wednesday morning from 9:30 AM until the time of service at 11:30 AM. Memorials to the Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice, the Sheboygan County Veterans Memorial, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Cascade or St. John Lutheran Church, Plymouth are preferred. Richards family would like to extend their sincere gratitude and appreciation to all those who helped in his final days, The first responders and EMTs, the staff at St. Agnes Hospital and the angels at Sharon S. Richardson Hospice. Your kindness will be remembered.Funeral Service:Wednesday, June 14, 2017 11:30 AM