Rick Wampole

Rick L. Wampole, age 66, of Hayward, WI passed away on Thursday, September 17, 2015, at the Luther Mayo Hospital in Eau Claire, WI.

Rick Lee Wampole was born January 18, 1949, in Eau Claire, WI. He was raised in Eau Claire and graduated from Eau Claire Memorial High School. He joined the U.S. Navy on November 8, 1967, and served on the USS Theodore Roosevelt Aircraft Carrier and then the USS Kamehameha and USS Ulysses S. Grant, both ballistic missile submarines. Rick was honorably discharged from the Navy and became a Police Officer and served in Eau Claire and the state of Connecticut. He returned to Eau Claire and began work as an Army National Guard Recruiter and served from 1983 until 1991. From his years of service with the Navy and Army, Rick had earned the Army Good Conduct Medal, Navy Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Commendation, SSBN Deterrent Patrol Insignia with one Silver and four Gold Stars, ASW A Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Service Ribbon, NCO Professional Development Ribbon and Expert Badge (M-16). Rick retired and moved to Hayward, WI where he became President of Veterans Association, active member of the American Legion, and a regular on the Veterans Military Honor Guard for military funeral services. On May 3, 1996, Rick was joined in marriage to Sandy Drabek in Hayward. In his spare time, Rick liked to hunt, fish and paint. He loved cooking and would cater out of the Veterans Center. He also enjoyed feeding the Hayward Football Team before a game. He will be remembered for his funny shirts, stupid jokes, and his playfulness with his grandchildren.

Rick is survived by his wife, Sandy; three sons, Shane (Shellee) Wampole, Eric Wampole, and Dean Wampole, all of Hayward; parents, John and Virginia Vitek; three step daughters, Tammy (Tim) McDonald of Hayward, Lisa (Jim) Lutz of Oregon, WI, Stacey Hessel of Hayward; 15 grandchildren; five great grandchildren; one brother, Gary (Jackie) Wampole of Chetek, WI; and several nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles.

He was preceded in death by one brother, Craig Vitek; step-son, T.J. Drabek and his grandparents, the Balmers and Viteks.

A Memorial Service for Rick will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, September 22, 2015, at the Veterans Community Center in Hayward with Pastor Tim Young officiating. There will be a time of visitation from 1 to 3 p.m. before the service. Interment will be in the dual veterans section of the Greenwood Cemetery in Hayward. Military honors will be accorded by the U.S. Navy Honors Program and the Hayward American Legion Post #218.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to Hayward Veterans Community Center; PO Box 633, Hayward, WI 54843.

Online condolences may be left athttp://www.bratleyfuneralservice.com.