Forbes Funeral Home & Cremations
Richard "Dick" Sieraski Sr.
(November 14, 1933 - January 30, 2012)
Richard J. Sieraski, Sr. died in his sleep on Monday, January 30, 2012, at his home after a courageous battle with cancer. Dick was born November 14, 1933 to the late Frank S. Sieraski and Madeline (Smiljanich) Sieraski in rural Iron County, MI. He attended parochial and public school in Hurley, WI and Ironwood, MI and is a 1951 graduate of Luther L. Wright High School in Ironwood. He went on to Michigan Technological University where he earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Chemical Engineering in 1955 and his Master’s in 1960. While at Michigan Tech, Dick was a member Delta Sigma Phi where he served as Treasurer and President and met many lifelong friends. Dick was a true renaissance man with many interests and work endeavors. After graduation, Dick was employed by Hercules Powder Company, Inc. in Wilmington, DE until he was called to active duty as an Air Force officer in 1956. He was stationed in Thule, Greenland for one year and Travis Air Force Base in California for six months before taking advantage of President Eisenhower’s “early out” option. He then returned to Hercules, Inc. at their Harbor Beach, MI location. On his birthday in 1959, he married Carol Ellen Treado at St. Agnes Church in Michigamme, MI.
Dick and Carol relocated to the Troy, NY area where Dick was granted a teaching fellowship at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) to pursue his Ph.D. in Fluid Dynamics. He then continued his work at General Electric Research and Development Center in Schenectady, NY. They remained in the Troy area for 13 years where their five children were born. In 1972, Dick, Carol, and their children moved to Sturgeon Bay, WI where they purchased the original Hilltop Restaurant on Green Bay Road. He ran the restaurant and was Head Cook, Carol waitressed and the children learned the ropes; serving many happy customers over the next 3 & ½ years. Dick opened Dick’s Sales, Service, and Repair at 800 W. Walnut Drive in 1976 and sold, serviced, and repaired countless lawn mowers, snow blowers, and chain saws until he retired in 2004. He enjoyed the conversations with customers almost as much as the hands-on work.
From a young age, Dick loved being outdoors. Skiing, skating, and playing ball with Mansfield Street friends (including his future wife Carol); and fishing with his father and older brother were favorite activities. He was active in all sports; playing basketball with the Spring Creek Wood Ticks, high school and college football, and hockey whenever he could find a team to play with. While living in Troy, Dick was a founding member and treasurer of the Capitol District Hockey Association in Albany, NY and was coach / manager for the Troy Darts. He remained an avid fan of the Green Bay Packers his entire life. Dick was an avid student of history, a natural born teacher, and able to converse with anyone. He was a lifelong photographer, beginning in his teen years and continuing through the digital age, including editing the family 2011 Christmas card photo.
He enjoyed camping and traveling, and was proud that he had visited all 48 contiguous states; many as family vacations by car. Dick looked forward to the RV they bought after retirement and their regular winter trip to Cajun Country for Mardi Gras and to visit friends in Florida and their summer trips throughout the Midwest. One of Dick’s regret was not making a trip to the Bay of Fundy to watch the 50 foot tides come in and out. Dick loved to cook and bake, especially for his family. Pancakes, pasties, and sub sandwiches were his specialties. He enjoyed gardening and growing fruit trees and planted a garden and trees wherever he lived.
Survivors include his beloved wife, Carol; five children, Madelyn and Ann Marie of Waukesha, WI; Richard J. Jr. (R.J.) and Ellen of Sturgeon Bay, WI; and Carolyn and her husband, Mark Glodoski of Excelsior, MN; four grandchildren, Jason and Shaun Sieraski of Marinette, WI; Marshall and Julia Glodoski of Excelsior, MN; one brother Frank (Almira) of Watsonville, CA; brother-in-law Marshall (Dorothy) Treado; numerous cousins; many loving nieces and nephews; and lifelong friends Marvin (Ruth) Knutilla of Lincoln, IL and George (Nancy Jo) Hill of Clark Lake, MI. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his in-laws, Marshall and Ellen Treado.
Dick’s wish was for a private celebration of his life in the Spring when his fruit trees are in bloom. On-line condolences may be offered at www.forbesfuneralhome.com. Memorials may be made in his memory to the family; Feed and Clothe My People, PO Box 741, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235; or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
The family would like to extend special thanks to Dr. Jaslowski of Green Bay Oncology for his patience and kindness in helping Dick understand the course of his illness and to the staff at the Cancer Center, Outpatient Medical Unit, and Outpatient Lab, at M.D.C.M.C. in Sturgeon Bay. Many thanks to all who continued to pray for his recovery and then eventually for his peaceful death.
Dick and Carol relocated to the Troy, NY area where Dick was granted a teaching fellowship at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) to pursue his Ph.D. in Fluid Dynamics. He then continued his work at General Electric Research and Development Center in Schenectady, NY. They remained in the Troy area for 13 years where their five children were born. In 1972, Dick, Carol, and their children moved to Sturgeon Bay, WI where they purchased the original Hilltop Restaurant on Green Bay Road. He ran the restaurant and was Head Cook, Carol waitressed and the children learned the ropes; serving many happy customers over the next 3 & ½ years. Dick opened Dick’s Sales, Service, and Repair at 800 W. Walnut Drive in 1976 and sold, serviced, and repaired countless lawn mowers, snow blowers, and chain saws until he retired in 2004. He enjoyed the conversations with customers almost as much as the hands-on work.
From a young age, Dick loved being outdoors. Skiing, skating, and playing ball with Mansfield Street friends (including his future wife Carol); and fishing with his father and older brother were favorite activities. He was active in all sports; playing basketball with the Spring Creek Wood Ticks, high school and college football, and hockey whenever he could find a team to play with. While living in Troy, Dick was a founding member and treasurer of the Capitol District Hockey Association in Albany, NY and was coach / manager for the Troy Darts. He remained an avid fan of the Green Bay Packers his entire life. Dick was an avid student of history, a natural born teacher, and able to converse with anyone. He was a lifelong photographer, beginning in his teen years and continuing through the digital age, including editing the family 2011 Christmas card photo.
He enjoyed camping and traveling, and was proud that he had visited all 48 contiguous states; many as family vacations by car. Dick looked forward to the RV they bought after retirement and their regular winter trip to Cajun Country for Mardi Gras and to visit friends in Florida and their summer trips throughout the Midwest. One of Dick’s regret was not making a trip to the Bay of Fundy to watch the 50 foot tides come in and out. Dick loved to cook and bake, especially for his family. Pancakes, pasties, and sub sandwiches were his specialties. He enjoyed gardening and growing fruit trees and planted a garden and trees wherever he lived.
Survivors include his beloved wife, Carol; five children, Madelyn and Ann Marie of Waukesha, WI; Richard J. Jr. (R.J.) and Ellen of Sturgeon Bay, WI; and Carolyn and her husband, Mark Glodoski of Excelsior, MN; four grandchildren, Jason and Shaun Sieraski of Marinette, WI; Marshall and Julia Glodoski of Excelsior, MN; one brother Frank (Almira) of Watsonville, CA; brother-in-law Marshall (Dorothy) Treado; numerous cousins; many loving nieces and nephews; and lifelong friends Marvin (Ruth) Knutilla of Lincoln, IL and George (Nancy Jo) Hill of Clark Lake, MI. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his in-laws, Marshall and Ellen Treado.
Dick’s wish was for a private celebration of his life in the Spring when his fruit trees are in bloom. On-line condolences may be offered at www.forbesfuneralhome.com. Memorials may be made in his memory to the family; Feed and Clothe My People, PO Box 741, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235; or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
The family would like to extend special thanks to Dr. Jaslowski of Green Bay Oncology for his patience and kindness in helping Dick understand the course of his illness and to the staff at the Cancer Center, Outpatient Medical Unit, and Outpatient Lab, at M.D.C.M.C. in Sturgeon Bay. Many thanks to all who continued to pray for his recovery and then eventually for his peaceful death.