Rick Riehl, age 67, passed away on Sunday, November 29, 2015, at The Kathy Hospice of West Bend, surrounded by friends and family.
Rick was born in Appleton, WI on November 19, 1948. He left Appleton to attend UW-Green Bay, graduating in 1971. Rick and college sweetheart, Donna, married in 1971. The couple would welcome three children and raise them in West Bend, WI, where Rick taught English and coached various sports at West Bend East High School for 32 years.
During his time as a coach, Rick mentored hundreds of student-athletes, teaching the finer points of the zone defense and proper jump-shot technique. Rick also served as president of the Wisconsin Coaches Scouting Service (WCSS). But Rick's impact extends far beyond the court: He is beloved for helping his students look down deep inside and discover who they were.
Rick was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in West Bend and served on the church council and stewardship committee. He was a member of the West Bend Rotary and the Mequon Rotary.
Rick is survived by his wife, Donna; children Tyler (Lindsey); Tara (Steve Houselander); Troy (Megan); grandchildren Hayden, Liam, Melanie, Bennett, Laine, and Samantha; siblings Jack (Sandy) Meisner, Kathy (Rick) Brewer, and Jerry (Ruth); siblings-in-law Judy (Ray) Timms, James Davis, Dan Davis, and Susan (John) Flemming. Rick is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents Leslie and Pearl (nee Last), Esther Zelle, and brother David Meisner.
Private services will be held.
The Rick Riehl Scholarship Fund is being established at Horicon Bank at 1535 W Paradise Dr., West Bend, WI 53095.
A special thank you to Dr. Gary Herdrich and the staff at The Kathy Hospice for their care and compassion and to Ron Komas for his efforts in establishing the hospice.