Obit: Treankler, Richard C. (1942 - 2008)

Surnames: Treankler, Krueger, Jensema, Grunke, Helmke, Jensen, Snortheim, Scheuer, Sternweis, Voss, Bennett, Krahn, Linnert, Parker, Plechaty, Schumacher, Stevens, Wiltgen, VanDreel, Vick, White, Kilty, Bandow, Weis, Wells

----Source: Marshfield News Herald (Wood Co., Wis.) 20 May 2008

Treankler, Richard C. (21 Mar. 1942 - 21 May 2008)

Richard C. "Dick" Treankler, 66, passed away with family at his side Sunday, May 18, 2008, at the Marshfield Care Center.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 21, 2008, at Christ Lutheran Church. Rev. Mark Krueger will officiate and Bruce Jensema will be the organist for Steve Grunke as soloist and congregational singing. Serving as pallbearers will be Phillip Helmke, Gerry Jensen, Robert Snortheim, Brian Scheuer, Gordon Sternweis and Michael Voss. Honorary pallbearers will be Elaine Bennett, Ken and Lois Krahn, Gerry and Trudy Krueger, Peter Linnert, John and Marge Parker, Dick and Leslie Plechaty, Dale and Marilyn Schumacher, Bruce and Karen Stevens and Dennis and Judy Wiltgen.

The visitation will be held from 4 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. today at Rembs Funeral Home.

Dick was born March 21, 1942, in the town of Eau Pleine, Marathon County, to Lloyd and Helen (VanDreel) Treankler. He attended Lindbergh School, March Rapids, and was a 1960 graduate of Stratford High School. He then graduated with a two year degree from Wisconsin Rapids Normal School in 1962 of which he was salutatorian of his class. Upon graduating he accepted a contract to teach and be principal at the Warrens Elementary School in Warrens. The following year he accepted a teaching position with the Auburndale School District, teaching fifth and sixth grade at the Arpin Elementary School until 1967 when he became employed by the Marshfield School District as fifth and sixth grade teacher at Madison Elementary School. He taught in this capacity until 1998 when he retired. Dick worked on the math and foreign language DEPEC committees and was instrumental in starting the annual School Safety Patrol trip to Wisconsin Dells that the sixth grade students looked forward to attending. He was also active in the MTA as a building representative on the public relations committee, chairperson for the Teacher of the Year committee, and a Dairyfest volunteer. Through night school and summer school classes he earned his B.A. and M.A. degrees from UW-Stevens Point with a minor in art. Dick was honored with the Marshfield Elementary Teacher of the Year Award in 1996. Dick was an active member of Christ Lutheran Church serving as a Sunday School teacher, usher and church council member. For several years he would decorate the church at Thanksgiving and Christmas. As an officer in the local chapter of Lutheran Brotherhood Outreach Branch he helped raise funds for various schools, churches and community needs.

Dick married his wife of 43-plus years, the former Judy Vick, on Sept. 5, 1964, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, March Rapids. They were richly blessed with two sons and daughters-in-law, Charles (Christy) Treankler of Marshfield and Steven (Anne) Treankler of Appleton and the ultimate blessing of two grandchildren, Nicholas and Katherine Treankler of Marshfield.

Dick had many interests in life. His family was first and foremost. His children and grandchildren brought him many joys and smiles. He loved being with family and nothing was better than to spend time around the kitchen table in the house he grew up in, eating fresh cinnamon rolls made by his mother who he dearly loved and held close to his heart, or popping in to say hello to his sister, Barb, and raiding her cookie jar. He had a real zest for flowers, nature, swap meets, garage sales, road trips with Don and Mary, shopping for antiques, chickens, photography, and he would never refuse ice cream unless of course it happened to have peanut butter in it. He enjoyed working on genealogy. Nothing pleased Dick more than having a former student stop in his classroom to say hello or to be greeted by them wherever the meetings occurred. He enjoyed his Tuesday morning coffee hour with retired school friends. From babies to adults he enjoyed visiting with them all.

Dick is survived by his wife, children and grandchildren and his sisters, Mary (Don) White of Wausau, Donna Kilty of Edgar, Barbara (John) Bandow of Stratford, Kathy (Ted) Weis of West Union, Iowa, and his brother, Darrell (Pete) Treankler of Marshfield, brothers-in-law, Eugene (Carol) Vick of Mabton, Wash., and Donald ( Cheryl) Vick of Stratford, sisters-in-law, Geri Vick of Holtwood, Pa., and Sue Vick of Marshfield, and several nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.

He was predeceased by his parents; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Henry and Marie Vick; and brothers-in-law, Orville Vick and Daniel Vick. The family wishes to thank their relatives and friends for all the love, prayers, cards, visits, and support during these past years as we journeyed with Dick through his illness. They also wish to thank Marshfield Area Respite Center, Jim Wells and staff at Wells Nature View, Marshfield, Bethel Center, Arpin, Marshfield Care Center and Marshfield Hospice Services.

A memorial will be established in Dick's name at a later date.

Life is a journey through which we meet, love and one day say goodbye to the ones we hold so preciously in our hearts. Through the gracious love of our Father, this journey becomes a treasure and through His love we are never alone and have His promise of being together again with those we miss and love. Until we meet again dear one, you will always be in our hearts. John 11:25