Richard A. Drexler, 97, Stratford, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019, at his home.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Stratford, with Rev. Sengole Vethanayagam officiating. Burial will take place in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Town of Eau Pleine, Marathon County, where military rites will be conducted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 6352, of Stratford. Serving as pallbearers will be his sons, John, Dennis, Paul and Steve Drexler, sons-in-law, Robert Helms, Carl Moeller and Tad Wetterau and cousin James Drexler.

Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. until service time Saturday at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, where a rosary service will be held at 4:00 pm. Sauter/Rembs Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Richard was born Oct. 10, 1921, at home in Stratford to Charles J. and Anne (Dillinger) Drexler. In 1936 he graduated from St. Joseph’s Catholic School, Stratford, and entered military service at the age of 17 and served from 1942-45 in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He served in the European Theatre as a staff sergeant during World War II.

After returning from military service, he married Adeline M. Altmann Sept. 27, 1945, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Stratford. She died Dec. 12, 2015. The couple had celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on Sept. 27, 2015, prior to her death.

The couple farmed in their early years and Richard also was a mail carrier. Always involved in carpentry, he later was a foreman at Stratford Homes until his retirement in 1985. He thoroughly enjoyed woodworking and carpentry and even in retirement would continue in his shop building wooden items like birdhouses.

He was very well known in the community for getting calls to come help fix, refurbish or re-build and never used pencil and paper since it was always in his head. Richard helped build the VFW building in Stratford and was very proud to be a member there.

He was a lifelong member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and a lifelong fan of the St. Louis Cardinals. He was a very good bowler and every Monday night he’d bowl with his four brothers at Holiday Lanes in Stratford. He loved polka music and every Saturday at 9 p.m. he was close to the TV to watch the Molly B Polka Hour.

In his 60s, he built a cabin outside of Tomahawk near Lake Nakomis and went there every weekend during the summer. He loved the cabin and he’d go with his friends – many good times were had at the Boomba Bar.

Richard was very loving and truly loved his family – his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Richard is survived by his children, Diane (Bob) Helms of Marshfield, Marie Drexler (daughter-in-law) of Wisconsin Rapids, John (Cindy) Drexler of Marshfield, Judy Drexler (daughter-in-law) of Stratford, Dennis Drexler, Paul “Buck” (Wendy) Drexler, Sharon (Carl) Moeller, all of Stratford, Kris (Tad) Wetterau of Wisconsin Rapids, and Steve “Beaver” (Rochelle) Drexler of Stratford. He is also survived by 29 grandchildren and 51 great-grandchildren, soon to be 52. He also is survived by many nieces and nephews; sisters-in-law Lillian Heintz, Marion Drexler and Janette Altmann, all from Marshfield; and brothers-in-law Richard (Dorothy) Altmann of Stratford, Donald (Kay) Altmann of Wisconsin Rapids and James (Dixie) Altmann in Independence, Missouri.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife as well as her parents William and Ida Altmann; two sons, Jerome and Charles Drexler Sr.; and four brothers, William, Lawrence (Belen), Charles (Mary Ann) and Leonard Drexler

A special note of thanks to Aspirus Home Health and Hospice with Beth, Liz and Flora; caregivers Carla and Toshia Spindler who provided amazing care during the last several years of his life; and Marshfield Clinic Internal Medicine Physician Dr. John Przybylinski and Medical Assistant Holly Zopfi.

Memorials may be designated in Richard’s name at a later date.

Condolences may be sent online to www.rembsfh.com

Dad, it has been an honor and a privilege to be with you on this journey. We love you…until we meet again.