Obituaries

Richard Gilman Myhre passed away quietly at age 76 on December 29, 2019, at the home he shared with his daughter Dana. Dad (Papa) drifted out of our lives peacefully, surrounded by those who cared for him during the final months of his life and while holding the hand of his grandson Braeden.

Richard was born to Oscar Gilman Myhre and Jane Margaret (Waldman) Myhre on August 7, 1943, in Edgerton, Wisconsin. Richard graduated Stoughton High School in 1961 and later attended Madison Business College, receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration in 1963. Though retired at the time of his passing, Richard was employed in the sales industry for most of his life. He was successful in his career endeavors and received several accolades and awards over the years. It was often said that Richard could sell anything to anyone. And he did just that.

Richard is survived by his three daughters, Angela Renee Myhre, Dana Jo Myhre, and Melinda Sue (Lee) Tangney; six grandchildren, Braeden Richard Gilman (Victoria) Myhre, Chalee Elizabeth Tangney, Alexandra Nicole (Dmitri) Espinoza-Nazarenko, Chase Mitchell Tangney, Chance Michael Tangney, and Brianna Caitlin Espinoza; and three great grandchildren. Richard is also survived by his best friend of more than 60 years, Gordon (Doris) Starks. Gordon is godfather to Angela and a cherished uncle to Dana, Melinda, and all of Richard’s grandchildren. Gordon and Richard enjoyed many years of hunting, countless practical jokes, and hours of reminiscing of years gone by. Richard was preceded in death by his parents Oscar (1991) and Jane (2012), and his sister Marlene Myhre (1997).

Our father and our children’s Papa was a very unique individual who did things in his own special way. In order to truly honor the man we loved we believe his obituary should reflect the things that were most important to him and the memories that we shared with him.

Dad was private, proud, and strong-willed. He didn’t believe in taking a handout, he never asked for help, he worked hard and took immense pride in his appearance. Even at the end of his life, having a clean-shaven face (courtesy of Braeden’s barber skills), and sporting a “Mark Harmon” haircut were important to him. Dad was self-reliant, intelligent, opinionated, and quite sarcastic. It has been said that people die in the same manner in which they lived, and this was very true of our father. During the last months of his life, his ingenuity, beliefs, and determination to do things on his own were evident while his sarcastic nature came shining through. He fashioned gait belts to his hospital bed to help himself get in and out of it, and he commented that the canvas bag for his portable oxygen tank would make a good gun case. Dad expressed his gratitude frequently, he cracked jokes, and he shared a number of colorful comments, regardless of who his audience was and at times likely for shock value which he also appreciated.

Dad thoroughly enjoyed being Papa to six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He loved his grandchildren and he truly enjoyed the time he spent with each of them, whether individually or all the times they outnumbered him. He proudly attended baptisms, birthday parties, graduations, and weddings to celebrate their lives and their achievements. He saved cards and letters from each of them and he took countless pictures to commemorate special times he spent with his grandchildren. Papa spent hours teaching our children about things that he deemed to be important life skills. His tutelage included how to use and take care of tools, how to take apart and put back together computers, and how to draw up blueprints on the next greatest invention. Papa was lovingly patient with his grandchildren. He would let them play beauty parlor and adorn his hair with “pretties” and he handled things gracefully when he woke up from a nap to find his fingernails were painted pink. For years, he tried convincing his grandchildren that he had the best pet in the world, which was his beloved and loyal “Dog,” a wooden dog that never needed to be fed, watered, walked, or taken outside to do his business. He spoke of Dog often and his stories always entertained his young audience. And, who could forget the campfire ghost story Papa made up about a “Wooly Booger” who lived in the woods?

Some of our favorite family memories, and arguably the happiest time in our father’s life were from years of camping trips enjoyed by the entire Myhre family. Our fondest memories include cooking steak dinners over an open fire, going to Pritzel’s for ice cream cones, long walks at dusk, spending rainy days shopping for campsite treasures at Good Will, or going on long drives looking at other properties for sale. Over the years, our babies had a tree swing that rocked them to sleep, often two at a time, and almost every night. As toddlers, makeshift tents were made from boxes, playpens, and blankets. Wagons were purchased as toys for his grandchildren; however, Papa’s true motive was to implement stick collecting contests to get yard work done by his unsuspecting and impressionable grandchildren. As his grandchildren grew, swings, wagons and makeshift tents were abandoned for squirt guns, sporting gear, and bikes. Eventually, it was Papa who decided when his grandchildren were old enough to be “fitted with a spatula,” which permitted them to partake in the cooking of campfire goodies, but only after being trained by Papa. We loved our camping weekends which were spent boating, tubing, water skiing and picnicking at the lake. It was during a camping trip that we came to learn of Dad’s soft spot for flamingos…especially those donned with hats, jewelry, or other various articles of clothing. We laughed until we cried, and we talked about the night of the flamingos for years. Dad was a connoisseur of trickery and game playing. Anything that led to laughter and a story for when we were all gathered around the campfire was fair game. During a guys’ only weekend of camping, Papa got a young Braeden excited about turkey hunting. Papa’s idea of turkey hunting consisted of driving until he spotted turkeys alongside the road, stopping the car, and then instructing Braeden to jump out of the car and see if he could catch a turkey. This tale was told many times over the years and was the epitome of Papa’s brand of humor.

Our dad amused himself in many ways that went well beyond hunting turkeys. He took great pleasure in demonstrating his advanced computer knowledge by quizzing unsuspecting Best Buy salesclerks on what they knew and then schooling them on what they didn’t know. If someone inadvertently called Dad instead of the person they intended, he would engage them in conversation instead of telling them they had the wrong number. Anything he thought he needed but couldn’t purchase had him eager to create a prototype to build the device on his own. His infamous (to family members only) “sock tube” is prime example of his creativity but taken to another level. Dad’s amusement was obvious in the contract he had a then 7 year old Braeden sign swearing an oath of secrecy, even under intense questioning by other little boys or little girls, and to include a whining clause resulting in a backrub for Papa, if violated. Braeden and Papa went on to create that sock tube and it was used by Braeden for a number of years.

There are far more memories and stories that we hold dear but insufficient space in an obituary to completely encompass who our father and our children’s grandfather was. He was a very proud, independent, and stubborn man. We cannot recall a time when he ever asked anyone for help with anything, even in recent months when his need for assistance could no longer be avoided or denied. We were very aware of how extremely difficult it was for Dad to accept our help in caring for him over the last months of his life. Having this knowledge and being able to have this special time with him was and still is regarded as a cherished gift that we are so very grateful for experiencing, as it was this time spent with him that has brought us much comfort in the weeks leading up to his passing and now as we memorialize him. When we learned of our father’s health prognosis, our goal was to go through this experience with him by respecting and honoring his wishes even if they differed from what we wished for him, and we sought to keep him as comfortable and as pain free as possible for the duration of our time with him. Thankfully, we were able to accomplish these goals. Braeden and Tori helped take care of Papa in their home before he was first hospitalized. They hung out, watched football games with him, made sure his Whopper cravings were satisfied, and wiped remnants of Oreos from his face. We were able to honor his love for food by indulging his endless sweet tooth, treating him to a prime rib dinner, and gathering for Thanksgiving dinner while enjoying a football game. In Papa’s final weeks, there were a few overnights that he and Braeden shared that were reminiscent of all the times the two of them spent alone camping. During Bri’s visits she let Papa know she had Myhre sarcasm in her blood, too. Ali brought him baked goods. Chance hooked Papa up with venison…another frequent food request. Chase introduced Papa to his great grandson. And, Papa was able to reminisce about his shared birthdays with Chalee, also born on August 7th. We witnessed joy on Papa's face every time he was able to visit with his grandchildren.

The Myhre family would like to thank Agrace in Madison for their deep compassion, endless patience, and utmost professionalism during a very difficult and trying time. Agrace was instrumental in making it possible for our father to live out his last months on his terms and being cared for in the comfort of Dana’s home. Words cannot express the gratitude we have for everyone who assisted us on this emotional journey.

“A limb has fallen from our family tree that says grieve not for me. Remember the best times, the laughter, and the song. And most of all, the good life I lived while I was strong.” And so we shall…Dad’s wishes were that his passing is not mourned in the traditional sense. He asked that his life and the memories we have of him be celebrated with an intimate gathering of family and friends in the spring. Until then, we will fondly remember the life he lived, enjoying the things that were most meaningful to him with those he held so close.

Ryan Funeral Home & Cremation Services

5701 Odana Road

608-274-1000