Richard Tober, of Trade Lake, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 12th, 2025, at the age of 77, at home and surrounded by his loving family.

Richard was born to Frederick and Viola Tober in Roseville, MN on July 26th, 1947, the oldest of 8 children. He graduated from Roseville High School in 1965, and then attended the University of Minnesota, where he graduated with a B.A. in Chemistry in 1969. Following his studies, Richard joined the Peace Corps in Africa and taught chemistry in Sierra Leone for four years. After his return, his father soon passed away, and he moved with his mother and several siblings to the Trade Lake area.

In Trade Lake, Richard worked in manufacturing, and in his off hours, built his own home from the ground up, down the road from his mother and several siblings. He poured the foundation, and taught himself carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and finish work. The house also featured several energy-efficient features, including large south-facing windows. Richard loved having a “project,” as he said, and was constantly building or fixing something, all the way until the end of his life, when he had almost completed a lakeview deck on his house.

Richard married Kimberley Reichheld in 1982 (div. 1999), and they had four children – Naomi, Jared, Joshua, and Rachel. Richard’s children were his greatest treasure, and he was active and involved in their lives and immensely proud of their accomplishments.

A lifelong nature lover, Richard enjoyed the peaceful setting of his rural property, and was active in the outdoors for his entire life. He took his children on regular canoe trips, bike rides, hikes, and cross-country skiing trips all throughout their childhood. Other hobbies included astronomy, gardening, and computers; Richard had a home PC long before it was common.

Richard was also a devout Christian and credited his faith with providing him with hope and purpose in his life.

Richard is survived by four children, Naomi, Jared, Joshua, and Rachel; two grandchildren, Beatrice (Naomi) and Paul (Naomi); siblings Roger, Mary, Kevin, and Roxanne; and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Frederick Tober and Viola Guetzgow, and his brothers Joseph, Dennis, and Rodney.

A private memorial service will be held at Grandstrand Funeral Home in Osceola, WI.

Last Update: Jan 14, 2025 11:40 am CST