Richard was born in the month of May honoring Mary, our Mother. He spoke of his connection to her when he felt most in need of guidance. He was the second son of three born to Paul and Julia (Dutkiewicz) Bieschke. His brothers were Donald (Carolyn) and Kenneth (Kathy). Richard began his formal education in September of 1940 at St Helen's under the tutelage of Sister M Euphronia. His classes included Religion, Arithmetic, Language, Reading, Art and Penmanship. Additionally, his performance was judged upon the softer skills of Effort, Courtesy, Reliability, Cooperation, and Neatness. Though simple, this solid direction of his formative years would guide his choices and decisions for a lifetime. He was a man who modeled and was admired for his strong-willed decisiveness, (some may say stubbornness) as he was crystal clear in life when it came to decency, respect, and goodness in both his personal and professional life. He felt that girls were better students as they seemed to enjoy sitting behind a desk and being attentive. He shares the story of being young and having a great time playing on a high snowbank while the class was in session. One of his classmates looked out of the window, noticed him, told the teacher, and it wasn't long before he was again sitting behind his desk. When the nuns released him from Elementary school, he attended Boys Tech for his High Schooling. As a child, his creativity began when he built his first crystal radio receiver to receive signals needing no external power. When receiving his first watch, he immediately and completely dismantled it to understand how it worked. And likely to the disappointment of his gifting parents, he was not able to put it back together. He learned to value quality music, loved math which later showed up in his meticulous woodworking and cabinet making talents. While still in high school, he designed and built his parents a complete bedroom set which has stood the test of time and is currently in the home of his daughter. His love for quality woodworking has continued as gifts of jewelry boxes, rocking chairs, and as he built an addition to his home, he crafted the beautiful cabinets that display his unique and meticulous talents as a craftsman. He was drawn to the sciences and environment through his love and respect of nature and the outdoors. He was raised in the city of Milwaukee, and as with many young men during the Korean War, the military came with travels. He was at Lackland Air Force Base (Squadron 3704), Flight 953) in San Antonio, Texas, before graduating from his coursework at the Air University, School of Aviation Medicine at the Gunter Airforce Base in Alabama. Once the Air Force placed him in the wild outdoors of Alaska, he knew he had found his first true love. He was most at home in the rugged outdoors and shared many stories of his off-duty time hunting big game animals (caribou, elk, muskox, and bear) with his Air Force buddy, Bob Henninger. Most times this included catching the one train that went North on one day and South on the next so it was important to monitor the days in order to pack up their tents and catch the train back to base in order to timely report back to duty. Though he spoke of an uneasiness when confined to the cities, his employment kept him there. Upon completing his military duties, receiving the National Defense Service Medal along with a Good Conduct medal, he returned to Milwaukee, WI where his parents and brothers resided. Without sisters and having attended an all-boys high school, he said he was afraid of girls. Obviously, that changed when he met and later married Carol (Bartz), the mother of their four incredible children. Kevin (Christal), Karen (Jim Sears) Basterash, Kelly (Wendy), and Karla (Jim) Mick. Richard grew up with a father working in public service (Post Office Department for 42 years) as a mail carrier. Not expecting to follow in those footsteps, Richard took the Civil Service Exam thinking it would be a temporary job until a better job came along. He worked two jobs to support his growing family and anticipated leaving the Post Office job when employees went on strike. Life unfolded differently and he remained with the Post Office which now became the United States Postal Service. This path led him from a 14 year Letter Carrier and Union Representative, through the Mail Processing operation in downtown Milwaukee, Supervisor of Mails, Delivery Supervisor, and a Finance Supervisor before he was finally able to claim his own office as the Postmaster of South Milwaukee. While in that position, his strong leadership talents were recognized when he was offered a 2-year 'temporary' assignment as a National Delivery Instructor in Bethesda MD. In this capacity, he taught newly promoted supervisors and Postmasters from across the United States. During this time, he continued to complete advanced education courses and expand his own knowledge. He would continue teaching others and sharing knowledge for the remainder of his own 42-year career. When his temporary assignment ended as did his marriage, he returned to the permanent South Milwaukee Postmaster job where he focused on his office, community, and administrative duties. His wife and their two teenagers remained in MD. It would be years later when life changed on both the personal and professional levels. He was promoted to the Postmaster, West Bend office and began a 2-year date with his friend and colleague, the Sheboygan Postmaster, Janet Bauer, who eventually said yes and became his wife and forever partner. Their mutual respect and love for each other only grew during the next three decades as they worked, traveled, and deepened their resilient friendship. This arrangement expanded his life with two more incredible adult children, Maria (Dean) Quast and Thomas (Jolene) Bauer. Richard completed his career as the West Bend Postmaster. He embellished it by continuing to instruct fellow postmasters. He was recognized nationally for the computer program he developed which provided delivery supervisors timely decision making data resulting in substantial effectiveness and cost savings as letter sorting technology began to put the letter carriers mail in delivery point sequence order, eliminating the need for employees to hand sort the letters. He spent the final six months of his career traveling the state of Wisconsin working with postmasters and supervisors in the implementation of the tools and the process to capture the savings. Richard was predeceased by his paternal grandparents, Joseph and Constance (Pelczynski) Bieszki and his maternal grandparents, John and Mari (Kaminski) Dutkiewicz. His parents Paul and Julia (Dutkiewicz) Bieschke; his brother Kenneth and three grandsons, Issiah and Jacob Quast, and Spencer Bauer. During his 85 years, his family grew and grew, resulting in a beautiful tribe of amazing people. He was so proud to claim the honor of being at the Top of the Chain (his term) of this family. He is already missed by his family. His legacy, memory, and stories will live on through his children and these special ones he leaves behind, affectionately and proudly called his tribe. Grandsons Kyle (Kevyn) and Collin (fiancée Kerri) Bieschke, Jesse (Tabitha) and Cody Bieschke, James (Cassandra) and Justin Basterash, Thailor (Gabriella), Seth, and Nicolas Bauer, and Nick and Kody Bieschke. Granddaughters April Basterash, Kaylyn (Clinton/CJ) Looney, Natasha (Scott) Wirch, Katreesa (Brandon) Quast, Jillian and Piper Bauer, Klista and Heather Bieschke. And if all of these weren't already enough, Richard lived to meet the biblical state of one truly blessed. To know of his childrens' childrens' children. He leaves Great-Granddaughters, MaKenzie and Alexandra Wirch, Olivia Quast, along with Great Grandsons Caiden Bauer and baby Bieschke (Kyle and Kevyn's) who will very soon grace us with his presence. In addition to the above much-loved family, he leaves behind cousins, nieces and nephews and so many 'Generation" friends who enjoyed his astute interpretation of life. He was a fun guy with a good head on his shoulders and will live on through his beautiful family. A Celebration of Life to honor Richard will take place at the National Veteran's Cemetery in Union Grove WI where he will enter his final resting place during the month of September on his mother's birthday. Richard has left a great hole in too many hearts and we will remember him by his good heart, wonderful, easy smile, and his great laugh.