Richard D. Harp

Richard D. Harp, 69, of Menasha, passed away peacefully on August 21st. He was born April 30th, 1943, in Little Chute to the late Eugene and Loretta Harp. At age 12, the family moved to High Cliff area where he then attended Kaukauna High School and graduated in 1961. Rich then attended DeVry University, Chicago. He also served his country with Army Reserve Unit, Appleton, 395th Unit 1965-1971. It was during a leave at Christmas time when he proposed to his beautiful wife, Carol Miller of Brillion, whom he married September 18th, 1965 at St. Mary's Church, Brillion. Rich had a career in the sheet metal industry having started as a star apprentice at Russell Sheet Metal, Menasha. He won First Place in the National Second-Year Apprentice Award for the U.S. & Canada, as well as First Place for four years in the Fox Valley. He retired 38 years later having enjoyed his work at Gilbert Paper the most. Rich was known by his colleagues for his high level craftsmanship, dependability, and humor on the job.

Rich was exemplary at leading a balanced life as he greatly cherished his time with his family, with his wife Carol and their 3 children, 6 grandchildren, his brothers, in-laws, nieces and nephews, along with many very dear and close friends including boyhood friends from High Cliff who have remained dear friends for life. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed deer hunting at his cabin (the “Red Dog”), one he built himself with the help of close friends including the “A-Team.” Rich also perfected the skill of turkey-calling, was a frequent winner of the Red Dog Cob Toss, enjoyed fishing on Lake Winnebago, picnics at Calumet County State Park, taxidermy, golf, photography and many wonderful camping trips with his wife, children and friends. He was involved in scouts as child as well as Webelo Leader for his son's troop. He was known and will be remembered for the special care he took of his family and for all the quality time he spent with them, for his humor, storytelling, warmth, ability to provide a positive outlook to any situation, for his handyman talents, lending a helping hand to anyone who needed him, a unique ability to personally build things he needed from stainless steel hot dog roasting sticks known as Red Dog “Dog Masters” to his woodworking skills as a furniture- and clock-maker, and ultimately as the guy who made a regular day a very special day for having spent time with him. Rich really enjoyed life and brought immeasurable joy and fun to those around him.

Rich is survived by his wife Carol; his children and their spouses who thought of him as a father: daughter Sharon and husband Tim Lynch of Lombard, Illinois; son Don and wife Jill of Appleton; daughter Vicki and husband Lon Hanson of Neenah; grandchildren ages 13-3: Amber Hanson, Paige Hanson, Trent Harp, Cole Harp, Nathan Lynch and Ben Lynch; brothers and spouses: Tom (Ruth) Harp of Appleton; Dave (Arlene) Harp of Green Bay; brother-in-law: Ken (Lois) Wenzel of New Holstein; sister-in-law: Mary Ann Wenzel of Denmark; sister-in-law: Margaret (Greg) Watson of Elgin, Illinois; nieces and nephews; godchildren: Mark Harp, Julie Harp Creel and Jayna (Hammen) Shene. Rich will be joined in Heaven by his late parents, brothers Jim and Leo Harp, sister-in-law Barbara (Scherer) Harp, niece Margaret Harp, and brother-in-law Ron Wenzel.

The funeral liturgy will be held on Saturday, August 25, 2012 at 11:00AM at ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC CHURCH, 516 DePere St. Menasha, with Msgr. Jim Vanden Hogen officiating. Interment will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Sherwood. A time of visitation will be held on Friday, August 24, 2012 from 4:00 until 7:00 PM at the Wichmann Funeral Home Tri County Chapel 3212 S. Oneida St. and on Saturday from 9:30 AM until the time of the service at the church. A prayer service will be held at 7:00 PM. Online condolences may be expressed at www.wichmannfargo.com. A Memorial fund has been established in Rich's name.

Gracious thanks to the many caring healthcare professionals who cared for Richard so wonderfully especially the team of IV Therapy Nurses at Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic, Oshkosh, Dr. Dar and Dr. Bechard and their teams, at Aurora Medical Center, Oshkosh; and the amazing team at The Heritage Theda-Care Hospice Center, Appleton.

Wichmann Funeral Home
3212 S. Oneida Street
Appleton, WI 54915
920-831-9905