Richard J. Anheier

Richard J. Anheier, age 84, passed away on September 15th, 2024. Richard was born on January 5, 1940, in Hilbert, WI, to Joseph and Irmina Anheier. He graduated from St. Mary Grade School and Hilbert High School in 1958. In 1962, he graduated from St. Norbert College with a degree in Business Administration and with emphasis in accounting. On July 9, 1966, Richard married Carol Jeanne Marcoe of Hermansville, Michigan, and they had three children--Kristin, Mary, and Paul. In October 1969, Richard was granted his CPA Certificate and joined the Wisconsin Society of CPAs and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

In the beginning of his career, Richard was employed in public accounting for nine years and was then offered a chance to become a partner. At that time, Richard declined the partnership opportunity and worked for twenty-five years in the field of real estate development, syndication, financing, property management, and construction and answered directly to the President. Positions held were Controller, Vice President of Finance, Treasurer, and Executive Vice President.

In 1996, he started his own company, Anheier & Company Inc., which was organized to provide Interim and Part-Time Chief Financial Officer work. All clients were referred from banks, and no advertising was necessary. The function of the company eventually changed to financial turnarounds.

In addition to his work, Richard was involved with several nonprofits, including the Fox Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau, United Way, and various committees of the Catholic Church to which he belonged. He also served as a board member of Silver Lake College for eight years.

Richard also had a unique interest--playing the accordion and cornet in high school and college. Though he gave up playing the cornet while a senior in college, he continued to play accordion. At age fourteen, he was contacted by the Bill Behnke Orchestra of Brillion to play strictly old time music about once per month. At age sixteen, he was asked to play with the Elroy Berkholtz Orchestra from Reedsville, which played for public dances two or three nights per week and continued playing with them through high school and college. Upon graduation from college, he said no more playing with bands; however, Jay Wells tracked him down in the Green Bay area and ended up playing with Jay's ten piece band, Jay Wells and the Red Raven Orchestra, for a year and a half. At that time he met and married his beautiful wife, and he decided to not play with any more bands. After starting his own company, Anheier & Company Inc., Richard started practicing accordion again, playing in a weekly Jam Session for 20 years in Winneconie and Appleton, and eventually played with the 12-piece Gary Kuchenbecker Orchestra for several years.

He and his wife were fortunate to travel overseas, visiting Greece, Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Mexico, and Canada. He was an avid walleye fisherman his entire life and at a younger age speared three sturgeon and hunted bird and small game. Richard rarely missed a Green Bay Packers game and held season tickets for over 20 years. 

He will be greatly missed by his wife, Carol Anheier; his children, Kristin Efthimiou of Appleton, WI, Mary (Chad) Young of Cable, WI, and Paul (Cody Benedict) Anheier of Seattle, WA; his grandchildren, Selena Efthimiou, Elias (Carolina) Efthimiou, Winter Young, and Isis Young; his brother, John (Sandi) Anheier of Kansas City, MO, and his sister, Virginia Somers (Larry) of Menasha, WI. Richard was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Anheier, and his mother, Irmina Anheier.

A funeral liturgy for Richard will be held at 11:30 am on September 20, 2024 at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 500 West Marquette St. in Appleton with Fr. James Jugenheimer officiating. Friends and family may gather at church for a time of visitation beginning at 9:30 am. Richard will be laid to rest at St. Joseph Cemetery in Appleton.

The family would like to thank the staff of ThedaCare Hospice, ThedaCare Medical Center in Appleton and St. Paul Elder Services for their compassionate care.