Richard Sirny

Richard P. Sirny, 61, of Bahrain, formerly of St. Paul, MN, passed away August 10, 2016, due to complications of a blood clot on his lungs. Services will be held at Melby Funeral Home in Platteville, WI on Saturday, August 27, 2016 at 10:00am. Pastor Jasmine Tesdahl will officiate. Friends and family may call from 9:00-10:00am prior to the service. Burial will be at Hillside Cemetery after the service, followed by a luncheon back at Melby Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials will be appreciated and will be used to further the education of his two youngest children, Daniel and Ariana, and for establishing their new life in Platteville, Wisconsin. Online condolences can be made at www.melbyfh.com.

Richard Paul Sirny was born on September 10, 1954 in Stillwater, OK. He was the third son of Robert and Dorothy Sirny. While young and on the farm Richard loved chasing his brother's 4H projects (chickens & rabbits) and being pulled by them in the wagon. When he was 7 the family moved to St. Paul, MN where his dad taught biochemistry at the University of Minnesota.

Richard loved the outdoors while growing up. He was very active in the Boy Scouts with camping, canoeing and earning Merit Badges. Richard and members of his troop travelled to Japan for the World Boy Scout Jamboree. He also earned the Eagle Scout and Order of the Arrow awards. Richard attended Ramsey High School in Roseville, MN where he was a member of the wrestling and basketball team. Then he attended the U of M as an Honor Student. For a time, he was a member of Rev. Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church movement in Barrytown, New York.

He married Jung Hi Kim in Texas on Dec. 29, 1982. Then Richard, Jung and Jung's son, Jasper, moved to Bountiful, Utah where Richard and Jung's daughter, Sonya, was born. In Utah, Richard worked at the Kennecott Mining Company where he was responsible for pumping water into the mines. He also worked in Montana and Wyoming for Bechtel on various oil companies and refineries. In 1988 they all moved to California, where Richard obtained work with the Exxon and Shell Oil Companies. In 1990, Richard was sent to Saudi Arabia for work followed by Sonya and Jung In 1991.

Professionally, he had over twenty-five years of experience in the Middle East, primarily in the industrial, commercial and residential project development, project management, contracts and financing. Richard worked for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in project development, consulting and project management for SIPCHEM, SABIC, and ARAMCO. He also worked for the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Oil and Minerals and was the Program Director for Worley Parsons.

In 2004 Richard married Natallia Victoria Biarnatskaya of Minsk, Belarus. They first lived in Saudi Arabia, and had two children together, Daniel in 2004 and Ariana in 2006. From 2010 to the present they lived in Bahrain. Richard loved being a father and loved his family very much. He was a wonderful father and husband.

Surviving are his son, Jasper; daughter, Sonya Kim Sirny of Sydney, Australia; son, Daniel Viktar Sirny and daughter, Ariana Ala Sirny of Bahrain. Also surviving are his two brothers, Robert (Judy) Sirny of Bovey, MN; John Sirny of Naples, FL; and sister, Marilee (Leonard) Lonsberg of Platteville. Richard was preceded in death by first wife, Jung Hi Sirny; his parents, Robert & Dorothy Sirny; grandparents, Jacob & Pauline Sirny of Sauk City; and Harris & Grace Harrison of Stoughton.