Richard "Rick" M. Silah, 59, of Milwaukee, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009, at home.

He was born on July 12, 1950, in Fond du Lac, a son of Richard P. and Helen P. Lichtenwald Silah.

Rick was a graduate of L.P. Goodrich High School, class of 1968. He received his bachelor of science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his masters degree from The Consortium of California State University.

He served with the U.S. Air Force from 1968 to 1972 and was in the Reserves for 10 years, including five months in Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm.


On Aug. 16, 1973, he married Patricia J. Sonnenberg.

Rick was a safety officer in the Milwaukee Public Schools.

He is survived by his former wife, Patricia; two sons, Adam M. Silah (fiancée, Kristin Nolan) and Christopher P. Silah, all of Milwaukee; two brothers, John (Karen) Silah and Gary L. Silah; his stepmother, Mary Lou (Myron "Doc") Bartelt, all of Fond du Lac; aunts and uncles.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Troy Richard Silah, on June 25, 2001; and a sister-in-law, Mary Lynn Silah.

The funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009, at Mach Funeral Chapel & Crematory, 31 East Division St., Fond du Lac. Burial will be in West Bend Cemetery.

The visitation will be on Saturday at Mach Funeral Chapel & Crematory from 10 a.m. until the time of service.

Memorials may be directed to Children’s Hospital of Milwaukee.

Mach Funeral Chapel & Crematory is serving the family. Additional information and guest register can be found at www.machfuneralchapel.com