Richard Thurs

Richard A. Thurs Sr., 64, Athens, died Thursday, November 29, 2012 at Aspirus Wausau Hospital, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born October 24, 1948 in Wausau, son of the late Harold and (Stella) Thurs. On June 6, 1970, he married Bonnie Kleinschmidt at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, town of Berlin. She survives. Rich worked as a farmer and bartended for the former Mason Lanes for his aunt and uncle, Florence and Byron Mason. He also worked for Northern Door in Merrill and retired from Sonoco in Wausau in 2010. Among his favorite pastimes, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, bowling, horseshoes, gardening, making maple syrup and spending time with his grandchildren. He loved the cabin on Squash Lake and his up north family, especially, the weekends fishing with the boys and his grandson. Rich had a special love for the outdoors. Survivors include, his wife, Bonnie Thurs, Athens; one daughter, Cindy Thurs, Edgar; three sons, Michael (Jackie) Thurs, Athens, Richard Jr. (Rachel) Thurs, Sparks, NV and Andrew (Ann) Thurs, Athens; two grandchildren, Taylor and Tony; one grandson on the way in April and one grandchild on the way in June; his dog, "Nomar"; twelve brothers and sisters-in-law, Kathie (Jeff) Baumann, Virgil (Sherry) Kleinschmidt, Joel Kleinschmidt, Dean Kleinschmidt, Lynda (Michael) Kropp, Gay (Roger) Mootz, Wanda (Eric) Dillard, Lois (Lee) Schmidt, Brian Kleinschmidt, Rebecca Kleinschmidt, Tom (Laurie) Kleinschmidt and Jon (Becky) Kleinschmidt; a special aunt, LuAnn Thurs who he shared his birthday with; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, special cousins and many friends. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his father and mother-in-law, Milton and Vernette Kleinschmidt; one brother-in-law, Dan "Boone" Kleinschmidt; and one sister-in-law, Devon Kleinschmidt. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 3, 2012 at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church-Berlin, 15743 County Highway FF, Merrill, WI 54452. Rev. Jeffrey Schmidt will officiate. Burial will be in Salem Lutheran Cemetery, town of Hamburg. Friends may call on Sunday from 1:00 until 5:00 p.m. at Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Athens and again on Monday from 10:00 a.m. until time of services at the church. The family would like to extend a special thank you to his caregivers, Georgia Wenzel and Stacy and Gene Roesler, Dr. Hamied Rezazadeh and the staff of the Oncology Unit at Aspirus Wausau Hospital. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church, town of Berlin or Trinity Lutheran Church, Athens. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com