Richard A. Whaley

 

PACKWAUKEE  -- Richard A. Whaley, age 78, passed away on December 31, 2008 at the Veterans Hospital in Madison.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage with Rev. Carol Herman officiating. Burial will follow in the Underhill Cemetery with Military honors provided by the Briggsville area veterans. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service at Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home.

 Richard was born on January 30, 1930, in Packwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Merton and Lilas (Myers) Whaley. His school years were spent in Packwaukee, Endeavor and Montello. He joined the Army in 1948 and served in the 1st Philippines Scouts in Okinawa. He met and married the love of his life, Betty Evans on July 13, 1952. Together they raised five children. They were married 55 years before her death 3 years ago.  He worked as a truck driver for many years. He also worked for Gumz Farms and Big Joes before retiring. He also drove cars at Adesa part time, where he made many good friends.  He always said that he was the youngest of the bunch there. In his younger years he enjoyed ice racing, stock car racing, and softball and was on a bowling league for many years. He was a history buff and a Packer fan. He taught all his children to love hunting and fishing, and was an avid outdoorsman.  He was very proud that he shot 2 deer this year.  He was also very proud of his service to his country. He was a member of the American Legion in Briggsville and had been Commander of the Disabled Veterans.

He is survived by his 5 children, Jeri Whaley, Packwaukee, Merton (Renee) Whaley, Endeavor, Mark (Lisa) Whaley, Packwaukee, Steve (Teri) Whaley, Packwaukee, and Scott Whaley, Packwaukee; 8 grandchildren, Christopher (Jessica) Whaley, Montello, Tanya and Emily Whaley, Endeavor, Robyn (Adam) Jordan, Packwaukee, James Whaley, Packwaukee, Leslie and Cassandra Whaley, Packwaukee, Zach and Paige Whaley, Montello;  5 great-grandchildren, Laker Whaley, Montello, Trinity Heitke, Endeavor, Ayda Bruchs, Packwaukee, Evan Farr, Packwaukee, Mackenna Jordan. Packwaukee; 3 sisters, Anna Jones, Endeavor, Deloris (Bill) Mussey, Phoenix, AZ, Merlas Zacharias, DeForest.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Betty, October 21, 2005, brothers-in-law, Doug Jones, Orville Evans, Chester Evans and Leonard Zellner.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Disabled American Veterans.