Richie Horvat

James Richard (Richie) Horvat, 89 of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on January 20, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.
Born on March 19, 1936, in Greenfield Wisconsin, the 12th of 16 children, to Wida and Josephine (Gosseck) Horvat.

Richie married his childhood sweetheart, Roberta (Bobbie) Hintze, in 1957, and they spent 74 wonderful years together, married for 68 of them. They met at the age of 14 when Richie asked if he could sit next to her at the Greenfield Park Swimming Pool.

Richie enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp at the age of 17, and served as an Aviation Electrician for 3 years. Following the Marines, he spent 34 years at General Electric Co., and retired as a Supervisor in 1991. Richie was later asked by Best Buy Co., to help set up their Appliance Service department and spent 7 additional years with them.

During his retirement, Richie was an avid genealogist and spent many years researching and documenting his family history, for his descendants, and was the point person for family communication. He also had a love of, and natural aptitude for troubleshooting and fixing things, and was always willing to lend a hand.

Over the years, Richie and Bobbie enjoyed their annual trips to Sanibel Island, playing cards, polka dancing and gardening, but most of all, spending time with family and friends.

Richie is survived by his wife Roberta (Bobbie), children: Margie (Jim) Burg, Jeanne (Mike) Scheffner, Steve (Linda) Horvat and grandchildren: Kyle Stange, Trevor Burg, Valerie (Tom) Stange-Barthell, Brianna (Scott) Renner, Keaton (Clare) Horvat, Jeremy (Katherine) Scheffner, Austin Horvat, Andrew (Abri) Scheffner and great grandchildren: Yondel, Kevin, William, Ellie, Charlotte, Genesis, Lincoln, Willie, and Anastasia. He is also survived by siblings: Mildred Daniels, Barbara Bykowski, Paul Horvat, and 45 nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by his parents, Wida and Josephine (Gosseck) Horvat, siblings: Mary Mahnke, Caroline Obermayr, Anne Rowell, Helen Kloskowski, Catherine Schmidt, Rose Hahn, Agnes Robinson, Joseph Horvat, Frances Gavigan, Florence Kestelik, Theresa Modjeska, Michael Horvat, and 12 nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on February 7, 2026, from 1:00 to 2:30, at Wisconsin Memorial Park, 13235 W. Capitol Drive, Brookfield, WI 53005. Prayer service at 2:30, followed by Military Honors at 3:15.

Finally home, in eternal peace … We miss you.