Frank Reith

Frank George Reith, 83, of Stanley, WI, passed away on October 1, 2022, after a lengthy battle with prostate cancer. Frank was named Francis on October 7, 1938, in Chippewa Falls, after his father, Frank Paul Reith with his mother, Esther Eslinger Reith. He proceeded as Buddy in his childhood and was known as Bud and Frank in adulthood, except when his mother was angry - or being addressed by his mother-in-law - then he was Francis. Frank and his sisters Mary Ann and Jean Carol were raised in the bustling village of Boyd, spending their summers on the shores of the Flambeau River at the old Camp 41 logging camp. Often, he was seen making boyhood trouble with his best friend Hank Etten, both in Boyd and “up North.”

Frank’s father passed in 1960, but he always had the fatherly support of Herman Gindt and Ben Anders. Frank met Jean Ruppel at UW Eau Claire, got crazy in-love, and they were married July 25, 1963. They were wed for 59 years with all the normal ups and downs, and were inseparable until his passing (they said the first 50 were the hardest!) After the wedding, he was commissioned as a US Army officer, primarily serving as the liaison for NORAD at Norton AFB, later serving in the Army reserves in Eau Claire.

Frank started teaching in Colfax, WI and settled in teaching at Stanley-Boyd HS a couple years later. He was very dedicated to his profession, but certainly was not a traditionalist. Extra credit was available by preparing for adulthood (wear professional attire for 5 points) sports (wrestling – 3 for a win, 6 for a pin) and other events like Pi day. This was part of his philosophy that success in life brings more success in the classroom. It is rumored that several students in study hall wet their pants due to bad grammar – failing to correctly ask for a restroom pass with “Can I go to the bathroom?” He also notably disrupted nearby classrooms with his “Horse Laugh” and routinely was the traffic cop for hall runners (his hypocrisy was speeding on the highway.)

In summers he kept busy working in the trades, and frequently recounted many pranks including telling his brother-in-law Bill Pozarski that "it ain’t raining over here” in cahoots with Bill’s Brother Jack, while sending new laborers to find the cement block stretcher.

He was close friends with fellow educators Don Vanderschaegen and Bruce Neuenfeldt, primarily because they also had frequently misspelled and mispronounced names. He helped both of them build homes, and shared time at work for decades. Frank was also a stickler for grammar, and competed with Rick Wulterkens as the human thesaurus, but unfortunately for you, Frank was unable to review this writing at time of print.

Frank enjoyed the outdoors and his beard. He won the beard contest for Stanley’s centennial in 1981, and was much better at keeping his beard than the hair on top of his head. He loved to fish and enjoyed the BWCAW and the Bass Club. Deer hunting was along the Flambeau, with Bruce and Rick, the “Social event of the year!” Enthusiasm for the outdoors led to civic service as an elected delegate to the Wisconsin Conservation Congress for many years.

Meeting Frank could be a painful experience, as he was very proud of his grip – displayed in the handshake. It was compared to Ray Nitschke's, and in Frank's 70s he even sent a grown man to the ER - in fear his hand was crushed!

Frank retired from SBHS, taught a few years in Thorp HS, and then settled into retirement with a business of home repair, lawn care and snow removal. Despite his battle with cancer, he was still clearing snow with his lawn tractor and a shovel into his 80’s, and was thankful he was so fit and strong for so much of his life.

Frank leaves behind his wife, Jean (Ruppel) Reith, sons Kurt (Crystal) and Paul (Magdalena), grandchildren Sherry Valentino, Cindy Valentino, Kurt Reith Jr., Abigail, Claire Reith, and Sawyer Reith, and sister Mary Ann (William) Pozarski. Frank was preceded in death by his parents, his granddaughter Myshell Reith, and his sister Jean Carol (Jim) Kane.

A celebration of Frank’s life will be planned at a later date. Please honor him now by donating in his memory to the SBHS Math Team scholarship, or one of the Thorp HS Scholarship funds!