Richard C. Moore

Richard Charles Moore “Rich”, age 82, passed away on July 3rd 2025 due to complications following a stroke. He was born March 14th, 1943 in Oak Lawn, Illinois, as an only child to the late Charles and Edith (Gordon) Moore.

He attended school in the Oak Lawn/Chicago area until he made his way to Michigan State where he was a founding member of the Theta Delta Chi fraternity and where he met Beth Gehlhoff in a carpool to Chicago over Thanksgiving break. They were married on June 6th, 1964, and spent 44 joy filled years together and had four children, Joanne, Mike, Lisa, and Craig. During that time Rich started working for Eaton/Cutler Hammer as a salesman and would tell you he was proud to have worked there for 30 years. The family moved to Detroit, Milwaukee, Brookfield, Appleton, and finally Sherwood. Beth passed away in 2010 of pancreatic cancer. After “batching” it for a few years Rich went on a tour to visit old friends. On that trip he reconnected with an old family friend, Karen Wolslegel. They were married on Nov. 1st 2014 and enjoyed 10 years together before his passing.

Outside of work, Rich kept himself busy with hobbies and various organizations. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, putzing in the garage, and making up plans and projects for the camp in the U.P. He was a longtime member of All Saints Episcopal Church in Appleton, where he volunteered his time and expertise to help the congregation. Rich was also a member of the East Central Wisconsin Association of Electrical Inspectors for over 30 years. Following in his father’s footsteps, Rich became a member of the Masons, and was active in Appleton’s Masonic Lodge #51 for 48 years, and later became a Shriner.

Rich lived a life full of love and laughter. He had a sharp wit and was always quick with a joke. If he wasn’t holding court with his stories and jokes, he was asking for a refund on the french fries he didn’t finish.

Rich was proceeded in death by his parents, Charles and Edith, his wife Beth, his daughter Joanne, and his granddaughter Etta.

He is survived by his wife Karen, his son Mike (Terri) Moore, his daughter Lisa (Jay) Gantner, and his son Craig (Chris) Moore. He is also survived by grandchildren: Hannah, Emma, Saywer, and Lofton Moore, Shelby Gantner (and her family), and Marty and Mason Helms.

Other survivors include Karen’s family: Amy (Dan) Toney, Wendy Phillips, Mark (Annarose) Wolslegel, and their children: David, Helen, Kyra, Max, and Santanna.

A memorial service for Rich will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at All Saints Episcopal Church, located at 100 N. Drew Street in Appleton, with Fr. Christopher Wilkerson and Fr. Patrick Twomey officiating. Visitation will be held directly at the church on Tuesday morning from 9:00 AM until the time of the service. A Masonic tribute will follow the worship service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made out to your choice of All Saints Church or the Lustgarten Foundation (a pancreatic cancer research foundation).

The family extends a special thank you to the caregivers at Country Villa, especially Don, Will, America, Daniel, Hannah, Makenzie, and Chelsea, as well as McKenzie at Sequoia Medical Service and Melissa with Moments Hospice.