Richard Paul Abrisz
Born: December 15th, 1930
Died: March 28th, 2015
Obituary
Richard P." Smokey" Abrisz, 84, of Burlington, died at 12:30 PM Saturday, March 28, 2015, at the Donnellson Health Care Center in Donnellson.
Born December 15, 1930, in Burlington, he was the son of Joseph Edward and Hazel Minnie Goetz Abrisz. He married Esther Elizabeth Madden, on July 7, 1952 in Tucson, AZ. Marrying Esther was the smartest thing he ever did.
Smokey was a firefighter for the Burlington Fire Department from 1955 to 1969, retiring with a medical disability. On his days off from the fire department, he was a surgical orderly at Burlington Hospital as well as providing emergency response for Superior Ambulance Service. He later worked as a delivery engineer for American La-France Co. from Elmira, NY. His final employment was working as a cast technician for Orthopedic and Reconstructive Surgery. He retired in 1997.
He was a U.S. Air Force Veteran, serving during the Korean War. He was stationed in Okinawa with the 303rd Bomb Wing.
He was a member of Oak Street Baptist Church. He enjoyed photography, computers, and building fire truck models.
Survivors include his wife, Esther, of Burlington; three daughters, Susan Abrisz of Seattle, WA, Cathy Ullery of Burlington, and Cynthia (John) McCrory of Atkins; two sons, Joseph (Catherine) Abrisz of De Forest, WI and Terry Abrisz of Burlington; six grandchildren, Rachelle Holdefer, Craig Abrisz, Carissa Tutt, Katie Lann, Meredith Abrisz, and Michael McCrory; 8 great-grandchildren; one sister, Jacqueline Balbort of Des Moines; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one son, Richard David Abrisz, two sisters, Mary Schweers and Betty Egert, three sisters in infancy, and one brother in infancy.
Visitation will be from noon until 8:00 PM with the family to receive friends from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM Tuesday, March 31, 2015, at Thielen Funeral Home.
The funeral service for Mr. Abrisz will be 10:00 AM Wednesday, April 1, 2015, at Thielen Funeral Home with Reverend Gary Karas officiating. Burial will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery. Full military honors will be rendered by the Burlington Area Veterans Honor Guard. A time of food and fellowship will be held at Oak Street Baptist Church following the burial.
Memorials have been established for Oak Street Baptist Church and the Alzheimer's Association.