Richard P. Smith

Richard Paul Smith, age 69, entered into the joys of eternal life on October 21, 2024, at RBI Caring Hearts, Bangor. He was born July 2, 1955, to Rev. Melvin and Lillian Smith in Beaver Dam. He became a child of God through Holy Baptism at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cambria. 

A long-time resident of the Coulee Region, Richard graduated from Luther High School, Onalaska in 1973, earned a BA degree at UW-La Crosse in 1980, and received a Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN, in 1983. He was a gentle soul with a sense of humor who deeply loved his family and is remembered for his avid interest in foreign languages, his collection of international flags, and his knowledge of obscure geographical facts. He was a member of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church. 

Richard is survived by a twin brother David of Whitehall, WI; a brother Thomas (Kristen) of Owatonna, MN; a sister Janet (Alan) Holm of New Ulm, MN; nieces, nephews, and extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.

Richard’s family acknowledges with sincere thanks the care and support shown by the staff at RBI Care and RBI Caring Hearts where Richard lived most recently. 

Visitation will be held on Monday, October 28, 2024, a half hour prior to a brief memorial service at 2:00 PM at Schumacher-Kish Funeral home in La Crosse, officiated by Pastor Robert Wassermann. Interment will follow at a later date at Sunset Ridge Memorial Park in Kenosha.

Memorials in memory of Richard may be made to NAMI La Crosse County, P.O. Box 595, La Crosse, WI 54602, or online at www.namilacrossecounty.org/get-involved/donate or to Mt. Calvary Church.