Richard Joseph "Richie" "Dick" Wojtanowski

Richard J. Wojtanowski passed away in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the age of 90 with his loving wife of almost 62 years at his side after a short battle with cancer.

Born on April 27, 1933, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to the late Joseph and Stefania (nee Granatowski) Wojtanowski. He served his country in the United States Army from May 1953-May 1955. He and Theresa (nee Parafiniuk) were married on July 29, 1961. They purchased a home on the northwest side of Milwaukee where they raised their son, the late Richard G. Wojtanowski, and lived until they moved to a retirement/assisted living community in 2019. Dick and Teri were devoted to each other and did everything together. They never spent a night apart until they were forced to, due to health reasons, later in life.

Dick was employed by American Motors/Chrysler and a member of the United Auto Workers Union. He retired after thirty years and also enjoyed more than thirty years of retirement. He and Teri were proud members of the Coca-Cola Collectors Club for thirty years and they enjoyed traveling to various locations for conventions. They enjoyed collecting the memorabilia, but mostly the friends they made along the way. In addition to their Coca-Cola travels, which took them as far as Australia, Dick enjoyed playing golf weekly, past the age of 85. He also enjoyed weekly card games with friends, both Sheepshead and Poker. In the early days of his retirement, he spent time volunteering to drive the elderly to appointments. Daily Mass was part of Dick’s retirement life, along with Teri, and while they enjoyed participating in the Mass, they also enjoyed visiting with fellow worshippers afterwards. Later, when at the assisted living facility, Dick looked forward to checking the mail and greatly enjoyed when he would find cards, care packages or little gifts from friends and family.

Dick was a talented artist and enjoyed charcoal sketching throughout his entire life. Their retirement apartment was filled with many of these original sketches. He and Teri also remembered family birthdays, sending birthday greetings to extended family with cards always arriving with a birthday cake hand sketched by Dick at the bottom of the card.

In addition to his beloved wife Theresa, Dick is survived by sisters Angeline Mikolajczyk and Susan (Terrence) Boyle; sister-in-law Therese Parafiniuk; and many loved nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Special thanks to nephew, Bill Wojtanowski and his wife, Vicky, for their selfless, loving care for the last ten years.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son; brother Norbert (Helen); parents-in-law Stanley and Sophie (nee Libecki) Parafiniuk; and siblings-in-law Raymond Mikolajczyk, Edmund, Irvin (Helen), and Stanley (Mayme) Parafiniuk.

Contributions in memory of Richard to Christ King Catholic Parish, Wauwatosa are appreciated.

Dick’s family would like to share a special thank you to staff at St. Annes Salvatorian Campus and St. Croix Hospice who have cared for Dick’s physical and spiritual needs, during these last few months. Special thanks to Allie and Donna, of St. Croix Hospice, and other care staff for keeping Dick comfortable in his final days.

Visitation will take place on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, from 10:00 AM until the time of the Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM at Christ King Catholic Church, 2604 North Swan Boulevard, Wauwatosa. Internment with military honors at 12:30 PM at Resurrection Cemetery, 9400 West Donges Bay Road, Mequon.