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October 3, 2024
Richard J. “Dick” Menzel, 90, of Hartland, passed away on Monday, September 16, 2024 surrounded by his family.
Dick was born on June 18, 1934 in Woodstock to John and Theresa Menzel. He met the love of his life Margaret “Peggy” Hallisy at St. Mary’s School. While away at Boys State in High School, Richard wrote to Peggy every day and always ended the letters with “P.S. Behave Yourself and I’ll be glad to get home.” Dick and Peggy got married on July 4, 1953 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Woodstock.
Dick spent many years running Menzel Skelly Service Station in Woodstock. Wanting to keep the family involved, he had his father, John, on the payroll as a mechanic, Peggy was the bookkeeper, and son, Terry worked pumping gas and servicing cars. He even had daughters, Diane and Donna in to wash vehicles for the funeral home. He believed in the family working together!
He joined the Woodstock Rural Fire District in 1964. By 1969 Richard was appointed Chief of the volunteer fire department, earning him his lifelong nickname of “Chief”. In 1978, he proposed the need for a full-time Fire Administrator due to the growing population of the Woodstock area. The Board of Trustees appointed Dick to that position in addition to being the on-call Chief for the Woodstock Rural Fire District. In 1994, he was an integral part of the consolidation of Woodstock Rural Fire Department, Woodstock City Fire Department, and the Woodstock Rescue Squad, creating the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District as it known today. During his 32 years of service, Dick gave tirelessly to the community, answered thousands of calls and helped implement strategies we take for granted today such as the pager system, higher visibility emergency vehicles and continued education programs for firefighters. He retired on October 5th 1996. His passion and dedication inspired continued generations of Fire Department service: His son Terry Menzel was Deputy Chief of the Woodstock Fire/Rescue District, Grandson Mark Menzel is Battalion Chief at Wheeling Fire Department and Great Grandsons Hunter and Parker Menzel have recently joined the Wonder Lake Fire Protection District. Even Granddaughters Katie Dubay (Menzel) and Kelly Brinkman (Menzel) are married to career firemen, Scott Dubay and Lieutenant Mike Brinkman.
Upon retiring, Dick and Peggy bought a summer home in Pioneer Park near Wisconsin Dells. They spent many years hosting family gatherings, 4th of July Anniversary cookouts and summertime fun including lots minigolf with the grandkids. Their lifelong friends and fellow firefighters, Joe & Mary Ellen Burg and Jim & Carol Baker also had places at Pioneer Park so they could all enjoy their retirement together; sharing memories and gin and tonics!
Dick was an indiscriminate sports fan. His weekends were for watching whatever sports event was on the television. Cubs, White Sox, Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, Green Bay Packers or Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish…he’d even watch bowling or golf if that’s all that was on!
He is survived by his children, Terry (Pat) Menzel of Woodstock, Donna Menzel O’Brien of St. Paul, MN.; grandchildren, Elizabeth (Joshua) Rowe, Shannon O’Brien, Patrick O’Brien, Mark (April) Menzel, Katie (Scott) Dubay, Kelly (Mike) Brinkman; great grandchildren, Connor, Hunter, Parker and Tayler Menzel, Landon and Makenzie Rice, Steven DuBay, Logan, Nolan and Reagan Brinkman and Natasha O’Brien; cousins, Mary T. Hallisy, and Michael Hallisy; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents, wife Peggy in 2022 and a daughter, Diane M. Schreiber in 2018 and sisters, Bea Cooney and Joanne Belshaw.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, September 22, 2024 from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the Schneider Leucht Merwin Cooney Funeral Home, 1211 N. Seminary Avenue, Woodstock. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on at 9:30 am on Monday, September 23, 2024 at St. Mary Catholic Church, 312 Lincoln Avenue, Woodstock. Interment services will be private in the Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Woodstock.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Camp I Am Me, Illinois Fire Safety Alliance (www.ifsa.org), an organization offering burn survivors support services, fire safety and burn prevention resources; or to the Wonder Lake Fire Department Explorer Program,
4300 W. Wonder Lake Road, Wonder Lake, IL.
The family would like to thank the nurses and staff of Valley Hi for their tender care over the last 2 and a half years.
