Our husband, brother and friend Richard “Dick” Polnau who was born in Stillwater, Minnesota on October 15, 1939 left us peacefully on January 28th, 2014, at the Hospice Serenity House in Phoenix , AZ. The Memorial Service for Dick will be held at the Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Road – Phoenix , Az 85018 on Wednesday, February 5, 2014. Viewing for family and friends will be from 10am until 11am on the 5th. The “Celebration of Life Service” to remember and honor Dick will start immediately after. Dick is survived by his wife Donna of Phoenix, Sister Sharon -California; Sister Shirley – Minnesota; Sister Janice – California; Brother Gary – Wisconsin; Brother Todd – Nevada and Brother Mark – Phoenix, Az. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the Hospice Serenity House, 4122 N. 17th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85016 . Donna and the family would like to thank all of their friends and relatives for the love, prayers, kindness and thoughtfulness they have shown over these past two year.
shirley (Minnesota)
I can’t even begin to put into words how much I will miss Dick.
I so looked forward to our weekend phone chats, all week I would keep track of my adventures and think, “I can’t wait to tell Dick this.”
Dick was one fun, cool, really neat brother. No matter how much pain or discomfort he was in, he always ended the conversation with “I love you”
Bob, Angela, Kiara and Eric
In memory of Uncle Dick who taught us the love of great parties, the passion for racing, and charity for others.
Donna we are sending warm thoughts and prayers from the frigid tundra of Minnesota. Wish we could be there to celebrate Dick’s life.
Bob and Angela Eastman, Kiara and Eric Mens
Gary
My life will never be the same without Dick we had a good relationship and shared our thoughts on everything. Dick left home at a very early age and the first real time I got to spend with him was when I was 12 yrs.old. He flew my out to go Goose hunting and it was a adventure I will never forgot.
Dick was a true outdoorsman among many other things. Another adventure I will never forget is after the family moved to Arizona Dick stopped by to pick up me and brother Mark and said “lets go the fish are biting”. He took us to a small mountain lake were we proceeded to catch Rainbow Trout and Northern Pike one right after another. It felt like a dream that did not make sense but sure was fun. I fell very fortunate to have spent much time fishing with Dick were he told me about his life’s adventures and they were anything but boring!
Dick also ran a business and got into USAC racing as a car owner he had both Sprint Cars and Midgets being highly successful in the Midgets winning a National Championship in 1973 with the very popular late Larry Rice driving the car.
In the later years Dick and good friend Joe would come up here in the spring to fish Sunfish we always caught plenty of fish but that was nothing compared to the fun we had. Joe and Dick when to together would put on a comedy show picking on one another that would make any TV show look silly. It is something I will remember for the rest of life.
I introduced Dick to my close friends and they really liked him. The last year he was up a good friend of mine Chuck invited him to sit in his booth at a local race track and it brought back such powerful memories to Dick he started crying. I told him “That’s great that it means so much to you”.
One of the things I am really going to miss is taking pictures for Dick whenever I seen something around the area I thought would interest him I would take a picture of it and send to him. He could get a good feel for the changing seasons along with the scary winter pictures which he did not miss. I tried several years to get him up here ice fishing and got close but he got the shivers.
I will truly miss the Sunday telephone calls and just to hear his voice. He will always have a deep place in my heart. Rest in Peace Dick my thoughts will always be with you.
Love Gary
Mark Polnau
Dick was the finest brother and friend that anyone could ask for. In 1973, my career started working for Dick when I was 18 years old. Under his leadership and stewardship he shaped and molded me towards a career that lasted 35 years. Dick was a mentor and most of all a friend of the highest caliber. When I was a young man, Dick took me camping, fishing, auto racing and many other recreational activities. Dick will be in my thoughts and prayers every day.
Mark (brother) Arizona
Mike Jacoby
How lucky was I to Meet Dick and donna, they were very good friends. Now richard has gone to a better place where pain does not plaque him. He will always be remembered by me and I have some very good memories. God bless
you dick and help donna in her life to come.