Richard Weittenhiller

Richard “Rick” Weittenhiller, age 70, of Belmont, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully at home on May 17, 2019 after battling kidney cancer for three years. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 at the Melby Funeral Home & Crematory, Platteville. Rev. Robin Luckey will officiate. Burial will be at Belmont Cemetery. A Celebration of Life luncheon will be held at the Sports Page in Belmont, immediately following the burial. Friends may call from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Monday, May 20, 2019 at the Melby Funeral Home & Crematory, Platteville, or from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service on Tuesday. Memorials may be made to the Richard “Rick” Weittenhiller Memorial Fund. Online condolences may be made at www.melbyfh.com.

Rick was born in January 1949, the son of Wendell and Betty (Bishop) Weittenhiller. He graduated from Belmont High School in 1967 and attended Southwest Technical College, earning his degree in Marketing. He married Jeri Tiedemann, of Belmont, in August 1972. Together they owned and operated Rick's Market on Main Street in Belmont for 12 years and sponsored many local softball and bowling teams. Many will fondly remember Rick's candy selection and lollys at the checkout counter. He also worked at BJ Petro, Kwik Trip, and Belmont Travel Center, retiring in 2016. Rick and Jeri had a marriage full of fun and adventure. Rick's cancer diagnosis further engrained their love and dedication to each other. Jeri rarely left Rick's side and was a wonderful caregiver.

Rick was a member of the Belmont Fire Department and was an EMT for 30 years. He was a member of the Belmont Village Board, Belmont Fair Board and Sports Boosters. He was a founding member of the Belmont Jaycees where he is a past president, and recipient of the Wisconsin State Brownfield Award. In his free time, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, watching the Packers, Badgers, and Brewers on TV and the “knowledge” he gained at the Sports Page. Rick enjoyed his annual guy's fishing trip in October; and those memories will stay between those who attended! He looked forward to his summer vacation at Outer's Resort in Chetek, WI, each year where he taught his grandchildren how to fish and tie the best fisherman's knot. Rick loved spending time with his grandchildren and saying good-bye with a special handshake. Papa's girls will miss him dearly.

Rick is survived by his wife of 46 years, Jeri; two children Carrie (Jeff) Puls and Brent (Dana) Weittenhiller; grandchildren, Megan, Zach and Molly Puls and Alyssa and Will Cutler and Piper Weittenhiller; sister, Penny (Ron) Burke; brothers, David (Peggy) and Wahoo (Renee); brother-in-law, Tom (Al) Tiedemann; sister-in-law, Bonnie (Doug) Knutson; brother-in-law, Rick (Jennifer) Tiedemann; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends. Rick was preceded in death by his parents; father and mother-in-law, Lloyd and Sal Tiedemann; and brother-in-law, Geoff Anderson. It is comforting to know he also joins his best friend, Rebel. The family would like to thank St. Croix Hospice for their wonderful care given to Rick.