Rhys Elmer Steinich

Rhys E. Steinich, age 81 of Friesland, died peacefully on Friday, June 22, 2018 at the Randolph Health Services with family by his side and under the loving care of Hillside Hospice. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 28, 2018 at Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church in Friesland with Pastor John Hildebrant officiating. Burial will follow in Cambria Cemetery with military rites conducted by Cambria American Legion Post #401. Relatives and friends may call on the family on Thursday at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of services. Rhys was born at home in Cambria on October 8, 1936 the son of Elmer Albert and Frances Verl (Froehlich)Steinich. He was baptized on Oct. 31, 1936 and confirmed on April 2, 1950 at Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church in Friesland. Rhys was a 1954 graduate of Cambria High School. Rhys farmed with his parents until being drafted in to the US Army in 1960, serving 18 months in Italy. On September 28, 1963, he was united in marriage to Marie Margaret Yuds at Zion Ev. Lutheran Church in Columbus. Rhys farmed for many years and in 1997 he became employed with Hughes Manufacturing in Columbus until his retirement in 2013. Rhys enjoyed traveling with others on short bus trips around Wisconsin and out of state. He enjoyed wood working, making bird houses, bird feeders and walking canes. His true passion was collecting many varieties of Hosta plants and following the Don Peachy Band where he and Marie loved to dance. He also had a green thumb for his strawberry, raspberry and asparagus patches. Rhys was an avid reader and doing word search puzzles until his eyes began to fail him. Rhys was a member of Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church, where he served on church council, member of Cambria American Legion Post #401, former 4-H Leader while raising his children and served as board member of the Dairy Herd Improvement. Rhys will be sadly missed and mourned by his wife Marie of Friesland; his children, David (JoAnn) of Columbus, Carol (Eugene) Link of Arenzville, IL, Philip (Selina) of Cambria and Robert (Kristin) of Mount Horeb; eight grandchildren, Jon (Sam) Steinich of Baraboo, Ryan and Abbie Link of Arenzville, IL, Katrina Vike, Addison, Easton and Jaxson Steinich, all of Mount Horeb and Kristine Steinich of Cambria, and one due in October; one great grandson, Elliot Steinich of Baraboo; four siblings, Phyllis Price of Poynette, Ray of Pardeeville, Gene (Marge) of Cambria and Dawn (Roger) Hasz of Granton; one brother-in-law, Erwin Yuds of Columbus; nieces, nephews, several other relatives and friends. Rhys was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter-in-law, Renee Steinich and one sister-in-law. The Kratz-Smedema Funeral Home in Cambria is serving the family. For online condolences or more information, please visit www.kratzfh.com.