Richard E. (Dick) Muhlenbeck, age 85, of Pleasant Prairie, passed away on Monday, December 12, 2016, at Brookside Care Center.

Born in Kenosha on June 16, 1931, he was the son of the late Edwin and Lucille (Wolf) Muhlenbeck.  Dick spent his early life in Paris Township, living on Plank Road, and was educated at the Marsh School, a one-room school house and was a 1949 graduate of Wilmot High School.

On June 21, 1953, he was united in marriage to Mildred Singleton at Zion Lutheran Church in Bristol. They celebrated their 63^rd year of marriage this past summer.

Dick began his working years at Simmons Co., later working for Deep Freeze in Waukegan, IL and was part of the crew that was building the Bong Airbase, now known as Richard Bong State Recreation Area.  He also worked for the Milk Producers Diary; Langren’s Dairy and worked part-time for his parents in the Bristol Locker Plant.  Dick retired from Gateway Technical College in 1992, as a custodian.  Dick also drove school buses for Central High School for many years.

For many years, he coached several men’s and women’s softball teams.  Dick was an avid horseshoe player and was an original member of the Thursday Good Fellowship League in Kenosha County.  He played for Bristol House for more than 30 years and played for many league championship teams. Playing horseshoes with his son and grandson, Corey, was his greatest achievement.  Dick was also one of the original members of the Kenosha Horseshoe Club, playing in excess of 15 years. He was a past member of the Wisconsin Horseshoe Pitchers Association, playing on several teams in state competitions and club team tournaments.  He participated and won in the State Walking Doubles Class Championship several times with his partners, Ray Billings and Jane Hartman.  Dick was fortunate enough to compete in Team World Horseshoe Tournaments for the state of Wisconsin.  He was a dedicated Green Bay Packers fan, having held season tickets in Milwaukee and later in Green Bay, as well as a die-hard Chicago Cub fan, reveling in finally seeing them win the World Series this past fall.

Dick will be deeply missed by his wife, Mildred; his two children, Deborah Merkt and Scott Muhlenbeck; a brother, Jack (Mia) Muhlenbeck; his sister, June (Ken) Nelson; three grandchildren, Matt Merkt, Jacklyn (Steven) Fuchs and Corey Muhlenbeck and two great-grandchildren, Colton and Weston Fuchs.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Thomas Merkt.

Service Info

Funeral services will be held on Monday, December 19, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. at the Piasecki-Althaus Funeral Home, 3720-39th Ave, Kenosha, WI. Private inurnment will be held at a later date.