Theodore Richard “Dick” Greenheck age 92 of Lone Rock passed away following an illness on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at Upland Hills Health in Dodgeville, WI.
Known to many as Dick, he was born on the family dairy farm in Bear Valley on June 19, 1934, to John and Agnes (Roessler) Greenheck and grew up with siblings Jim, Ruth, Tom, Gene, Janice, and Steve. Dick started high school at Edgewood in Madison with the anticipation of joining priesthood. But he returned to work on the farm for his senior year and graduated from Ithaca High School.
Dick served his country in the Army from 1955 – 1957 which included a deployment to Germany.
Afterwards, he delivered milk and worked at a local cheese factory and later at the Carnation plant in Richland Center.
Dick fell in love with his wife the former Jean M. Beatty while bartending at the local watering hole Eddie’s Riverside. Dick and Jean were married on June 19, 1963, and eventually settled in Lone Rock, WI. Together over the next 63 years, they raised a son Theodore ‘Ted’ (Nancy) and a daughter Tracy (Steven).
He later became a grandpa to Claire and Owen Massey. In 1964, Dick became a mason and later joined the Local 13 & 34.
He worked with Kramer Brothers for many years and with Madison contractor Findorff until his retirement.
His younger brother Gene joined him as a bricklayer and together with other long-time mason partner Bob Pizer they laid cinder block and brick on numerous buildings in Madison, including St. Mary’s and UW hospitals, several schools and churches, and many buildings around the capital square and surrounding area. Dick took pride in his brick work and spent many weekends building homes in southern Wisconsin along with many buildings for his local community including the Lone Rock Bank, Laundromat, and Legion with many of those jobs as favors to other bricklayers, family, and friends.
Always a provider, Dick served his community and loved ones in quiet acts of service. From removing snow from driveways, telling you his unfiltered opinion, tinkering on random items to help his neighbors and acquaintances. Chopping wood, playing cards, and challenging his grandkids to a game of checkers were his side hustle. Dick found joy in his family, chit-chatting, reading all the local newspapers and the Wisconsin State Journal from front to back, long drives, and a sweet treat! He was an avid Wisconsin sports fan, from the Brewers, Bucks, Packers, and Badgers, he loved it all.
Like his favorite treat, any kind of pie, he was a bit crusty on the outside, but inside he was incredibly soft, asking if everyone was doing okay, if they needed anything etc.
Survivors include his wife, Jean Greenheck of Lone Rock, children Ted and Nancy Greenheck of Spring Green, Tracy and Steven Massey of Oregon, WI, his grandchildren Clarie Massey and fiancé Nate Giem of Madison, Owen Massey of Mt. Vernon, and his siblings Janice Donatell of Manitowoc and Steve (Luanne) Greenheck of Dodgeville, along with several nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and fellow bricklayers.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Agnes Greenheck, siblings Jim (Shirley) Greenheck, Ruth (Leo) Halverson, Tom (Ann) Greenheck, Gene Greenheck, and brother-in-law Hank Donatell, his parents-in-law Randal and Wilmeta (Cheesebro) Beatty.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at St. John’s Catholic Church in Spring Green, WI with burial in St. Kilian’s Catholic Cemetery in Bear Valley, WI at 2:30 p.m. Visitation will be held on Thursday at the church from 9:00 a.m. until the time of Mass at 11:00 a.m. Following the service, there will be a luncheon at the church.
In lieu of flowers, we encourage you to honor his love of community and athletics by supporting your local sports team. Or please consider supporting local healthcare providers, just as they supported Dick and his loved ones.
Thank you to the amazing people who cared for Dick through his many health issues. A special thanks to his heart specialist Dr. Dong and his local generalist Dr. Hartline for their kindness and support and for staying by his side as he fought it all for 26 years. We are so grateful for the tender care he received from staff at Upland Hills over the years and for making his final days comfortable and peaceful. The abundance of love, prayers, and support from everyone mean so much to Dick’s family.
Online condolences available at www.staffordfuneralhomes.com