Obit: Poehnelt, Richard Henry (1947 - 2020)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Poehnelt, Glenn, Fischer, Belanger, Ludwig, Jakel, Blume, Bach, Schindhelm

----Source: Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home (Abbotsford, Clark Co., WI) 11/05/2020

Poehnelt, Richard Henry (11 October 1947 – 3 November 2020) With Flag

Richard Henry Poehnelt, age 73, of rural Athens, passed away unexpectedly due to COVID on Tuesday, November 3, 2020 at Aspirus Hospital in Wausau.

Richard was born Oct. 11, 1947 to Matt Poehnelt and the late Dorothy (Glenn) Poehnelt in Marshfield. He attended Colby High School and then proudly served in the Army in Korea during the Vietnam War. He worked at Packaging Corp. in Colby for many years and various semi driving jobs. He married Marjean Fischer and they later divorced. They raised two children.

Richard was one of a kind. He definitely brightened the room with his smile and sense of humor. He was always quick with a joke and had a good story to tell. Richard’s “rough exterior” sometimes hid his heart of gold. But his home was filled with family pictures and his fondest memories. He saved every birthday and Christmas card anyone ever sent him.

His favorite hobbies were riding motorcycle, hunting and fishing, tinkering in the garage, woodworking, guns, truck and tractor pulls, and putting together puzzles and model cars. He loved hanging out with his grandkids, helping Derek and Misty with their hemp farm and projects, helping out on his sisters’ (Sharon and Linda) family farms, quality time with his family, and having a few drinks with old friends and neighbors.

He is survived by his father, Matt Poehnelt of Colby, a daughter, Dawn Belanger of Lomira and a son, Derek (Misty) Poehnelt of Medford. He is further survived by four grandchildren, Meghan Belanger, Eric Belanger (currently serving in the U.S. Navy), Gracen Poehnelt and Ava Poehnelt; five brothers, Tom (Diane) of Eagle, Don (Jackie) of Loyal, Mike of Colby, Mark of Medford and Jim, Abbotsford, and five sisters, Karen (Lanny) Ludwig, Sandy (Mike) Jakel, Sharon (Henry) Blume, and Linda (Steven) Bach all of Dorchester, and Donna (Kevin) of Westboro. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and many friends and other family.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy (Glenn) Poehnelt, a sister, Julie Schindhelm, two brothers David and Ronald, a brother-in-law, David Schindhelm and step-mother, Shirley Poehnelt.

A Memorial Gathering will be held on Sun., Nov. 8, 2020, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home in Abbotsford followed by Military Honors provided the Colby VFW Post #2227. Masks and social distancing will be required. Family and friends can watch the service live on the funeral home’s Facebook page or after service anytime on Facebook or the website.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to The High Ground Veterans Memorial Park in Neillsville, where a stone will be placed in Richard’s honor.

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