Richard "Dick" Nitz

Obituary:

Richard A. “Rich” Nitz Richard A. “Rich” Nitz, 67, of Stanley, passed away on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. He was born on March 26, 1959, to the late Wayne and Ila Mae (Emling) Nitz. He grew up in the area and attended Stanley-Boyd High School.

Rich went on to attend CVTC, where he studied auto body. He graduated top of his class and received the Outstanding Student award, an accomplishment he was incredibly proud of throughout his life. After graduating, Rich moved to Colorado, a place that quickly became home to him. It was there that he met some of his closest friends and made memories that would stay with him forever. Colorado became such an important part of who he was that, even after returning to Stanley, it always felt like a piece of him remained there. The friendships he made and the life he built in Colorado stayed close to his heart throughout the years. Rich eventually returned to Stanley, where he married Lucy Palms in October 1996. Together, they raised their two children, Curtis and Emily. Although Rich and Lucy later divorced, they remained good friends and enjoyed getting to watch the kids and grandkids grow up together.

He owned his own auto body shop and flipped houses for many years as a hobby. Watching him paint cars was a work of art and he took a lot of pride in what he could do. He couldn’t sit still for too long and always had something to fix, build, or tinker with. He loved checking out Craigslist and seeing what he could get his hands dirty with next.

Above all else, Rich was an incredible dad. There wasn't a problem he couldn't fix or at least try to help with. He was always just a phone call away, ready to drop whatever he was doing and show up for his kids at a moment's notice. Whether they needed help, advice, someone to lean on, or simply their dad, they knew he would be there. He and Curtis loved smack-talking and wrestling in the kitchen. Rich never took it easy on him and always made sure to remind Curtis that the old man still had it. And when it came to Emily, he loved doing the little things like picking out a piece of jewelry for Christmas and making it a habit of checking her oil whenever they were together, which was usually way too low and almost always earned her a lecture.

Rich became a grandpa for the first time when his granddaughter Ryleigh was born. When Claire joined the family, he proudly claimed his title as a “girl grandpa.” He absolutely adored his girls and could never get over how beautiful they were. You could often catch him staring and smiling at them. He was just in awe. Then his grandson Layne was born, and he was wrapped around his little finger right away. Layne was his little buddy. He loved finding special things to fix up for Layne. His last project was giving old Tonka trucks fresh paint jobs, making sure every detail was absolutely perfect. His grandchildren knew he could never say no to them. All it took was one look, and he would do just about anything to make them happy. He was sure to tell them “Grandpa loves you” every chance he got. He sure got a kick out of them and loved to be able to tell everyone about them. As far as he was concerned, he had all the bragging rights in the world to prove how perfect his grandkids are. Rich’s home was always open to everyone, and he had a way of making people feel like they belonged. His children’s friends often became more like family, calling him Dad or Papa Rich, a name he absolutely loved and took pride in. He loved when people stopped by just to sit and chat, and what started as a quick 15-minute visit could easily turn into hours. He made people feel cared for, welcomed, and like they always had someone in their corner. Rich was truly one of a kind, and the love he shared with his family, friends, and grandchildren will never be forgotten.

Rich is survived by his son, Curtis (Brittany) Nitz of Hallie, and their children, Kayden, Emery, Jasper, Ryleigh and Claire; his daughter, Emily (Tyler Sedlacek) Nitz of Chippewa Falls, and their son, Layne Sedlacek; his siblings, Wayne Jr. (Bernadine) Nitz of Neenah, David (Joan) Nitz of Thorp, and Daniel (Judy) Nitz and Tim Nitz, both of Stanley, Janice Nitz of Milwaukee, and Julie Scheidler of Cadott, and his dog Buster. He was preceded in death by his parents, Wayne and Ila Mae Nitz; his beloved pup, Maci; and his best friend, Monte Mitchell.

To our dad, We love you so much, and we miss you more than you will ever know. Losing you means losing a piece of ourselves. There are a million memories and amazing things we wish we could tell the world about you, and still, it would never be enough to capture the kind of dad you were. Thank you for always showing up, for teaching us the things we needed to know, and for raising us the way you did. Thank you for the laughter, the lessons, and all the little things you did that meant more than you probably ever realized. We love you forever and we hope we make you proud.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to all the friends and family who showed up, stepped in, and helped without hesitation during this difficult time. Words cannot express how much your love and support have meant to us.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Plombon Funeral Home in Stanley, with Randy Vandeloo officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service and lunch to follow at the Stanley Community Center.