Richard R. Hetland

Hetland, Richard R.
Appleton

Age 75, died in Appleton of a massive brain hemorrhage on Sunday, August 22, 2004. He was born on May 16, 1929 in West Bend, WI to Stanley and Frances (Kerry) Hetland. Dick earned a B.S. from Northwestern University and a M.S. from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

He married Patricia Webb of Spring Valley, Wisconsin in 1954. They celebrated their 50th anniversary on June 24, 2004. She survives him.

Dick taught high school English and Speech in Marshfield and Janesville, WI from 1951 – 1956. He also coached debate in both places and took the debate teams to the state tournament for the first times in their respective school’s history. From 1956 – 1961 he taught for the University of Wisconsin Extension Division, including the Wisconsin High School Forensic Association and the Management Institute. During this time, among other things, he served on the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Congress of Parents and Teachers and the Wisconsin Adult Education Association.

In 1961 he joined the Education and Training function of Kimberly-Clark Corporation. He was named manager of that function in 1968 and retired as Sr. Training and Development Consultant in 1991. Dick did considerable traveling for K-C to conduct management seminars and provide management consulting. Among his treasured memories were the many programs conducted in England, Germany, Canada, South Africa and Australia. He took his family with him for a two year assignment in Australia from 1971 – 1973. A lifetime highlight for all of them was the 17 day return trip home with multiple stops in Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Following retirement, he accepted short assignments for Kimberly-Clark in South Africa in 1992 and in Australia in 1993.

He was very active in his church. At St. Margaret Mary’s in Neenah, where the family attended for 30 years, Dick was a lector from 1965 Р1991. He chaired the lector group for the first four years, after that, lay activity was introduced into the worship service. He served two terms as President of the St. Margaret Mary Parish Council, and , as a commissioned minister of communion services, served in that capacity for six years. Since moving to Appleton in 1994, Dick was a lector at St. Bernadette’s. In addition he was a volunteer at St. Elizabeth Hospital as a Eucharistic Minister and as a Lector in the hospital chapel.

While living in Janesville and Madison, Dick was very involved as a member of the Jr. Chamber of Commerce. He served as Chairman of the State Convention, a State Jaycee Director, Chairman of the State Jaycee Leadership Project and President of the Madison, WI Jaycees in 1959-1960.

Communication skills, public speaking and semantics were major interests throughout his life. He had great admiration for those who combined a distinguished use of the English language with public speaking proficiency. He put them in the same category as great musicians or artists.

Dick is survived by two sons: Mark of Appleton and Jay (Randi) of Manitowoc; three daughters: Kristin (Andy) Bartell of Appleton, Karen (Jeff) Martis of Appleton, and Kay Hetland of Waunakee; seven grandchildren: Laura and Stephen Hetland, Bridget and Morgan Bartell, Jayme Hetland, and Emily and Kyle Martis; two brothers: Joel (Sara) of Austin, TX, and Tom of Rhinelander; and a sister-in-law Sally (John Hetland) Beghtol of Hendersonville, NC. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Bernard and John. Also surviving is a brother-in-law, Allen (Barbara) Webb of Elmwood, WI; sisters-in-law: Amy (Herb) Schreiber of West Bend and Lois (Bill) Van Ells of Birmingham, AL; former sister-in-law, Dianne Hetland of Rhinelander; and a former daughter-in-law, Debbie Hetland of Appleton.

The Memorial Mass will be at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 24, 2004, at ST. BERNADETTE CATHOLIC CHURCH, 2331 East Lourdes Drive, Appleton, with Fr. Harold Berryman officiating. Friends will be received at the church from 3:30 p.m. until the time of the service.

The family extends its thanks to Dr. Wm. Guenter and his staff, the nurses and staff of Appleton Medical Center’s 3rd Floor South, and the nurses of Theda Home Care.

Memorial contributions may be made to Appleton Community Foundation’s LEAVEN Endowment Fund, or to AAMDS (Aplastic Anemia Myelodysplasic Syndromes, www.aamds.org) or to St. Bernadette Building Fund.

WICHMANN FUNERAL HOME
537 North Superior Street
Appleton, WI 54911
(920) 739-1231