ATHENS – Richard Henry Stubbe, 82 of Athens, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at home with family present. Richard was born June 4, 1938 in Wausau WI to Edwin and Emma (Marquardt) Stubbe. He grew up on the family farm in the town of Maine. Richard met his wife Sally at St Johns Church in the fall of 1960. They were married on June 30, 1962 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Wausau. Richard was proud to serve his country as a United States Marine from September 19, 1956 to September 18, 1959 at Camp Pendleton CA. Shortly after returning to Wisconsin, he purchased his first farm in the town of Berlin where he and Sally had their wedding reception. The following year he purchased and moved to another farm just around the corner and dairy farmed another 10 years. After an injury, he pursued a career in metal fabricating at Mid-State Contracting and retired from Stainless Specialists, Inc in January 2007. He was also a ginseng farmer from 1977 to 1992. He was a lifelong member of St. Peter Lutheran Church and served it with his heart and soul. From church counsel to being a general maintenance engineer, his dedication to the church was inspiring and his resounding voice could be heard leading the congregation in song. He also greatly enjoyed listening and dancing to polka music, playing his trumpet, and spending time ‘Up North’ fishing and enjoying his week at deer camp. Richard took great pleasure in building things, especially when using lumber he harvested from his woods. He loved the beauty of the knotty pine boards and it showed in his sheds, his cabin near Winchester WI and the house in which he and Sally live in. His passion for the Green Bay Packers, Wisconsin Badgers and Milwaukee Brewers was evident as he rarely missed watching a game. He had always looked forward to the group bus trips with friends and neighbors to Brewers games.
Richard is survived by his wife of 58 years, Sally Jean (Stahel); children: Sherri Martino (Scott) of Ladysmith, Todd Stubbe (late Denise Ashebrook) of Merrill, Karri Moodie (Bryan) of Athens, and Matthew Stubbe of Merrill; six grandchildren: Jacob and Maria Martino, Brooke Ann Stubbe, Emma, Colton and Justin Moodie; sister Emile Scheffler of Greenville and sister-in-law Marlene Stubbe of Wausau, and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Richard is preceded in death by his sister Marilyn Small, brother John Stubbe, Sr, and brother-in-law David Scheffler.
A private family graveside service will be held June 4, 2021 with full military honors conducted by the Mar-Lin VFW Post 10203. Burial will be in the cemetery next to St Peter Lutheran Church. A memorial celebration for him and his sister Marilyn (Stubbe) Small who passed away March 13, 2020 will take place on Saturday, July 10th from noon to 4pm at Richard’s shed. In lieu of flowers, memorials for Richard can be made to St. Peter Lutheran Church 135237 Cty Rd. A, Marathon, WI 54448 or the Hamburg Cemetery Association133772 Cty Rd. A, Marathon, WI 54448.