Richard Breitenfeld

WAUNAKEE-Dick E. Breitenfeld of Waunakee died on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. He was born on April 23, 1933, in Butternut, WI and attended Ashland High School, graduating in 1951. Dick was the eldest son of the Gustav and Irene Breitenfeld family. He has a sister and a brother (deceased). He enlisted in the Wisconsin National Guard in 1950 while still in high school. Little did he realize at that time that it would be continuous until 1993. In 1956, he applied for and was hired for a full-time technician job in the Guard. From that point on, he was on the move: 1956, Administration Assistant, Ashland; 1959, Staff Administration Specialist, Milwaukee; 1961, Sgt. First Class to Warrant Officer, ordered to active duty with the 32nd Infantry Division and deployed to Fort Lewis, Washington during the Berlin Crisis. In 1962, he was released from active duty and returned to his civilian position in Milwaukee. The same year, he was off to Madison and assigned to the Military Support Section. In 1971, he was back in Milwaukee as a Staff Administrative Specialist. During this time, he met his wife, Janice, and they were married in September 1971. Obviously, Janice liked to travel because off they went again: Honeymoon in Hawaii, 1971; returned to Madison, State Area Command H. Q. as a Recruiting and Retention Specialist; 1980-1984, active duty in the recruiting field; and 1984-1988, in the Technician Program. He retired from the full-time Technician Program in 1988 with 31 years of service-all in the personnel and administration field. From 1988-1993, he served in a Military Personnel Area. On April 23, 1993, he transferred to the Retired Reserve and was placed on the military retired list.

During his career, Dick attended six different forts for military schooling requirements plus a 90-day tour at the Pentagon in Washington, D. C. His military awards/decorations are many including the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, and numerous other State and Federal awards.

In Dick's retirement, he served as Secretary of the Wisconsin National Guard Retiree Council for 10 years. On April 13, 2007, he had the privilege to be inducted into the Wisconsin Army National Guard Hall of Honor which is the highest award created by the Adjutant General of Wisconsin.
With their love of popular and country music, they made the rounds of the Crystal Grand in Lake Delton, WI and Branson, MO, with a side trip to Switzerland. In his spare time, he enjoyed walking (no kidding), bowling, and golf. His claim to fame in the golfing world was a HOLE IN ONE in 1999!! Other people saw it also! Dick joined the Legion Post 360 in 1980 and has served as 2nd Vice Commander, member of Children & Youth Committee for 20 years (10 years as chair), Funeral Honor Squad, and newsletter editor (stepping down in June 2010). He was proud to be a member of an American Legion family. His father joined the Legion in 1919 and his mother joined the Auxiliary in 1932. At the time of their passing, they had 137 years of combined dedicated service. Dick was a proud Commander of Post 360 in 1994.

Dick is survived by his wife, Janice; a daughter, Linda; and his sister, Laura Hall. He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Richard in 2017; and a brother, Roger.

Funeral services will be held on Sat. Nov. 25, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 300 Broadway Dr., Sun Prairie. Rev. Joel Brandt will preside. Friends may call at the church on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services. Burial will take place in Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery at 2:30 p.m. with full Military Honors.

Winn-Cress Funeral and Cremation Service
5785 Highway Q
Waunakee, WI 53597
(608)849-4513