Richard White

Richard “Freddie” Allen White Sunday evening August 21st, 2016, Richard Allen White, aged 65, passed away at his home in Grantsburg Township, Wisconsin, surrounded by family and friends. The weather that day was perfect for his passion to fish blue gills in his boat on Atlas Lake, where for over thirty years you would likely find him after work on a summer evening. Richard was born in Superior, Wisconsin on April 17, 1951, to Esther May (Pietz) and Allen Everett White and grew up in Dairyland, Wisconsin, a rural area of forests, lakes and streams. He often talked fondly of childhood memories of walking alone in the forest in winter on a moonlit night to see the shapes and shadows of the trees on the snow. He graduated in 1969, from Webster High School and was married in 1970, to Maryann Dalsveen. They raised three children, Terri, Keith “Skeeter” and Rick and lived in Dairyland for fourteen years. Richard (now known as Freddie), met Diana Manning in 2008, and they were married in 2012. Throughout their eight years together he would love to tell her stories of his children and would often say to her, “I grew up with my children”. He truly cherished his seven grandchildren and was so proud of all of them and the wonderful parents his three children had become. Thinking of them whenever he faced yet another challenge throughout his courageous year-long fight with cancer would give him strength and peace: the fun they had camping at Totogatic Park on the Minong Flowage and ice fishing on winter mornings when he would check the outside temperature and tell his kids, “Yup-makin’ ice!”. Caring for his family was his first passion, and he worked hard his entire life to provide for them. He was a Lineman for thirty-two years for Northwestern Wisconsin Electric Company. He sorely regretted having to retire in April 2016, and missed working with the men on his crew. Freddie especially enjoyed training new linemen, particularly Michael Long, who became a special friend. Freddie’s other special friends included Gary “Leonard” Lindquist, who was also a fishing buddy and one of the guys on the annual Canadian Walleye fishing trip to Don Wright’s Camp on Thaddeus Lake near Dryden, a tradition Freddie treasured for over twenty-five years. In Freddie’s final days as he fought cancer to the end, Michael, Leonard, as well as Andy Lozier, considered by Freddie as a “member of the family”, were by his side along with his wife, sister, three children and their spouses, grandchildren, nephews and other friends. Freddie was a compassionate man, never judging; and his family and friends knew they could count on him to always “have their backs”. Often a man of few words, he had a wonderful soft laugh, easy bright smile and a welcoming way with strangers. Freddie was a great cook (learned from his mother Esther), and loved to grill in the backyard; everyone counted on his annual fish fry. He enjoyed music and could instantly remember the names of musicians and songs; had a great singing voice and “smooth dance moves”. He always dressed simply in loose jeans, t-shirts and sweatshirts. Freddie showed his love for life through his wonderful playful side. He always said “that’s my favorite sound”, when he heard the frogs in the fields by his home. He also loved it when the Sandhill Cranes flew over the house and would always answer their call with his own pretty impressive Sandhill Crane “sound”. Freddie leaves behind his wife Diana. He is the love of her life and although they only shared eight years together, he told her they shared enough love to last a lifetime. He is also survived by his three beloved children and their spouses: Terri (Jeremy) Fennell, Maple Grove, MN, Keith “Skeeter” (Tamra) White, Grantsburg, WI, and Richard “Rick” (Billi) White, Minneapolis, MN; seven grandchildren: Liam, Cole, Bailey, Greta, Amelia, Ava and Bella; his sister Deborah Reinhardt, Webster, WI; nephews Kevin (Dyana), Mark and Brad (Katie); great nephews: Garrett, Andrew and Brayden; a great niece Emily; many friends; as well as Josie B, the family’s golden retriever who misses their long walks together. Freddie is preceded in death by his parents, Esther May and Allen Everett White and infant brother Gary White; as well as his loyal canine companions Reggie and Mihna. “Hope is the thing with feathers, that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without the words and never stops at all.” – Emily Dickinson On Thursday, August 25th, a period for honoring and sharing Freddie’s life was held in Grantsburg and he was buried at the Dairyland Riverhill Cemetery in Douglas County, Wisconsin. A celebration was also held that evening at the Viewpoint Lodge in Wascott. Online condolences may be expressed at www.swedberg-taylor.com. Gifts to cancer research in memory of Richard Allen White may be made for the phenomenal compassion and care he received from the doctors at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, especially from Ms. Jessica Mitchell: http://www.mayoclinic.org/give.