Obituary: Richard Arden Bierman

Feb. 5, 1933 – Sept. 27, 2019 

Richard (Dick) Arden Bierman, 86, died in Sister Bay. He was born in Milwaukee to architect Richard H. Bierman and Florence Sontag Bierman. Dick was a 1951 graduate of Custer High and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, graduating in 1956 with a degree in geology. Dick was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity and also enjoyed writing for the Octopus Magazine.

Dick served in the Army Reserves at the rank of captain after graduating from college. On August 13, 1955, he was married to Claire Goodrich in Monroe, Wisconsin, and they celebrated 64 years of marriage in 2019.

Dick had many interesting life experiences, first as a credit manager for Procter & Gamble, Century Hardware and then as president of Milwaukee Tab and Milwaukee Business Interiors. In 1978, Dick and Claire moved from Mequon to their home in Ephraim.

Dick developed The Gathering shops and Paulson’s Restaurant in Ephraim and created a very successful furniture and gift business. He was a member of the Ephraim Moravian Church and also served on its board of trustees. He was a member of numerous organizations, including the Ephraim Men’s Club, Ephraim Yacht Club, and Ephraim Historical Foundation for more than 40 years.

Heading for warmer weather, Claire and Dick moved to their house in Scottsdale, Arizona. Not wanting to retire yet, he worked for several furniture companies in Scottsdale and always received the highest rewards for his production. He loved the furniture business and met so many interesting people throughout the years, both in Wisconsin and Arizona. Dick and Claire lived in their home on Taliesin Mountain for 11 years until they returned to their true home in Ephraim to be close to family.

Dick is survived by his wife, Claire; his sister, Elaine Sandilands (William); son, Richard Barrett Bierman (Karen) and their two children, Megan and Richard Christopher (Chris); his daughter’s children, Andrew and Daniel Laishes.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Lori Ellyn Bierman; and his parents.

A memorial service to celebrate Dick’s life will be held at the Ephraim Moravian Church on Thursday, Oct. 24, 11 am. (This date has changed from the original date of Oct. 25, which was printed in the Oct. 4 issue of the Peninsula Pulse.) In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed in Dick’s memory to the Ephraim Moravian Church and the Ephraim Yacht Club’s Aaron R. Moore Scholarship.

A special thank-you to the wonderful people and care at Scandia Village.

Casperson Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Sister Bay is assisting the Bierman family. Expressions of sympathy, memories and photos of Richard can be shared through his tribute page at caspersonfuneralhome.com.