Richard R. Thayer Sr., 87 of Birnamwood, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Oak Park Place, Menasha.
Richard was born on September 9, 1938, in Milwaukee, the son of Tom Sr. and Harriet (Jerzakowski) Thayer.
Richard married Delores Stanke on September 3, 1960, at St. William's Catholic Church in Eland, celebrating 65 years together.
Richard was a 1957 graduate of Wittenberg High School. He dedicated 37½ years to Kimberly-Clark, working as a papermaker and foreman. He also proudly served in the Army Reserve for 24 years, retiring with the rank of Master Sergeant. Richard received the Milwaukee Journal Award for Outstanding Soldier. In 2016, he was honored to participate in the Never Forgotten Honor Flight. After retirement, he volunteered with the DNR as a hunter safety instructor. He loved playing Santa every year for his friends' families and especially for his own grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Richard is survived by his wife, Delores; son, Rick (Carla) Thayer; daughter, Pam (Dusty) Canoy; daughter-in-law, Mary Beth (Chris) Brandl; grandchildren, Kayla (Josh) Tursky, Brittany (Dan) Paulson, Brandon (Allison) Thayer, Grant (Courtney) Thayer and Tyrell (Brittany) Reiman; great grandchildren, Oliviana and Noah Tursky, Liam and Brooks Paulson and Sophie and Cullen Thayer, and sister, Beverly 'Sis' Stock.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents; son, Dennis Thayer; three brothers, Orville (Kay) Thayer, Don (Jan) Raddatz and Tom (Jane) Thayer and a brother-in-law, John Stock.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 AM, on Monday, May 11, 2026, at St. Florian's Catholic Church, Hatley. Rev. Jerome Patric will preside. Inurnment will be in Greenlawn Memorial Park, Neenah. Visitation will be on Monday, from 9 AM until the time of Mass at the church. Following the Mass, military rites will be conducted by the Darling-Gunderson Post #341, American Legion, in the church parking lot.
The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the compassionate staff at Oak Park Place and Bristol Hospice for their exceptional care and support during Richard's final days.
