Full Obituary

RICHARD A. THOMAS, age 68, of King, WI, formerly of Loyal and Greenwood, WI, died on Saturday, September 6, 2014 at the Wisconsin Veteran's Home, in King, WI. Funeral services will be held at 11am on Thursday, September 11, 2014 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Spencer. Rev. David Depaoli will officiate and burial will follow at McMillan Memorial Gardens, in Marshfield. Pallbearers will be: Wayne Thomas, Steve Thomas, Glen Thomas, Steve Canfield and Matthew Thomas. Visitation will be held at the church, on Thursday, from 9:30am until time of service.
Richard Allan Thomas was born in Greenwood, WI on January 17, 1946, a son of Arnold and Delores (Malinowski) Thomas. He was raised on the family farm and received his education in the Greenwood area, graduating from Greenwood High School in 1964. Richard enlisted into the U.S. Air Force on November 1, 1965 and served until his honorable discharge on April 30, 1974. While in the service, he met and was united in marriage to Elaine Buffington on May 6, 1967 at Pelican Lutheran Church in Ashby, MN. They later divorced. After his discharge, he moved back to Clark County, WI and worked for Plautz Brothers for a few years. Richard then drove truck for Smith Transport in Loyal, WI, for many years. He moved to Loyal in 1987 and retired in 2000. After retiring, Richard drove for Abby Vans, Inc. in Neillsville and enjoyed helping his brother, LeRoy, on the family farm. He moved to Colby in 2012 before entering the Wisconsin Veteran's Home in King, WI, on February 15, 2013.
Richard had many interests, but especially loved attending his grandchildren's sporting events, photography, bird watching, sightseeing, NASCAR, golfing and Frisbee golf.
He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Spencer and was a former member of the Jaycee's.
Richard will be dearly missed by his children: Troy (Brenda) Thomas of Greenwood, Leanne (Gene) Oelrich of Spencer; 5 grandchildren: Treyton, Christian and Bria Thomas, Emma and Grant Oelrich; 3 brothers: Dennis (Alta) Thomas of Sioux Falls, SD, Everett (Cheryl) Thomas of Greenwood, WI, LeRoy Thomas of Greenwood, WI; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents.