Full Obituary

     RICHARD A. "RICH" LESNIEWSKI, age 74, of Thorp, WI, passed away at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire, WI on Sunday, May 26, 2024.  Funeral services will be held at 10:30am on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig Catholic Church with Rev. Stanislaus Michael Antony officiating.  Visitation will be held at the church on Wednesday, from 9am until time of service.
     Richard Adam Lesniewski was born on October 18, 1949 in Stanley, WI to Frank E. and Lorraine A. (Bieniarz) Lesniewski.  He was raised and received his education in Thorp, graduating from Thorp High School in 1967.  After completing high school, Rich moved to Milwaukee and went to work for Harley-Davidson.  He was united in marriage to Diane M. Mamayek on December 10, 1977 at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig Catholic Church in Thorp.  They moved back to Thorp in July of 1978 and Rich went to work for the family business, Thorp Floor Covering.  In the early 1980's, he went to work for the Thorp Post Office as a rural mail carrier, which he did for more than 30 years, retiring in October of 2015.
     He was a member of St. Bernard-St. Hedwig Catholic Church.
     Rich had many interests, but especially loved riding his Harley, wood carving, family traditions and their Polish heritage; like making sausage and hundreds of pounds of sauerkraut, bowling with his Thorp Dairy Bar bowling team, coffee with the guys at Bob's Corner Garage, reading and watching anything and everything that pertained to WWII history, showcasing his artistic talent for drawing by facepainting Erin, Desiree, and friends for school events, like football games.  He was a big Packer fan, except when they were playing the Bears.
     He will be dearly missed by his wife, Diane, of Thorp; two daughters: Erin Lesniewski-Copeland (partner Steve Alton) of Menomonie, WI, and Desiree Lesniewski-Theisen (Michael) of Eau Claire; five grandchildren: Ella Copeland, Dylan and Drew Alton, Olivia, Damian, Emma and Gage Theisen; two siblings: MaryAnn (Tom) Smasal of Thorp, and Robert (Janet) Lesniewski of Eau Claire; his mother-in-law: Sylvia Cieslek of Thorp; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
     Rich was preceded in death by his parents.