March 18, 2021 at 2:56 p.m.
Richard O. Schmelter
He was preceded in death by his son Steve, parents, grandparents and various other relatives and friends.
Dick had no bucket list, as he did pretty much what he wanted to do this lifetime (within budget and legal limits); including traveling, playing, experiencing, exploring, being, doing, cruising, and much more.
Richard is survived by his wife, Linda, son Michael of Milwaukee, grandsons Will and Jon (Milwaukee), and two great-grand children. He was born in Milwaukee in 1934, shortly after his parents immigrated to the U.S. from Germany. He married his current wife, Linda in 1978 and the couple relocated to the Northwoods in 1986.
Richard served in the USAF from 1953-1957 during the Korean Conflict. He was stationed in Bangor, Maine, Niagara Falls, and Greenland. While his dream was to fly the military airplanes, because of poor eyesight they would not let him. His job there was refueling jet planes instead.
Dick was an ace maintenance man and could fix most anything. This was his main occupation throughout most of his life, as well as caretaking, resident manager, roofer, RV repair, small business owner and a few other trades as well.
His passions in life were cruising on his beloved Gold-Wing motorcycle and spending time on the shores of Lake Superior. Richard and his wife enjoyed 20-plus years driving cross-country in their RV (wintering in Arizona), spending time in all of the states in between and taking many road trips as well. He loved camping and hiking in the canyons of Arizona and New Mexico (earlier years) and driving the mountain back roads. Some of his favorite travel destinations were Puerto Vallarta and Baja, Mexico, and Laughlin, Ariz.
One of Dick’s greatest joys in life was eating. The family used to watch him eat and wonder where he was putting all that food! From many kinds of Ethnic foods to “forbidden” (junk food), he loved it all! Dick and Linda visited many buffets all across the country. It used to be a joke between them when they first got together that they had met their match as far as eating goes. This was of course in the earlier years!
You can be sure Dick is riding his motorcycle through heavens gate. We will watch for a sign!
In lieu of a Celebration of Life, we have created an on-line Memorial Site: https://tributes.com/Richard-Schmelter-ArborVitae
Please visit this site and leave your messages, condolences, stories, memories, photos, etc.
We look forward to coming together in this way.
Memorial Donations can be made to: gofundme.com/f/Richard-Os-Memorial-Fund
A very special thanks to Ascension at Home Hospice for your Amazing Presence during these last months.
Also , thank you to the wonderful folks at the Rhinelander and Iron Mountain V.A. for your years of care and guidance.
I give you this one thought to keep —
I am with you still — I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush,
I am the sweet uplifting rush,
of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft starts that shine at night.
Do not think of me as gone —
I am with you still in each new dawn.
— Traditional Native American Prayer
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