Richard John Mankowski
“Rick” or “Moose”
PORTAGE ‒ Richard John “Rick” or “Moose” Mankowski, formerly of Bridgman, MI, passed away after a brief battle with lung cancer, on April 5, 2025, at his home in Portage, WI, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on August 17th, 1960, in Madison, Wisconsin.
Rick graduated from Sun Prairie High School, in 1978, where he played football. He and his twin brother Ray joined the navy on the same day in 1978. He proudly served on the nuclear-powered submarine U.S.S. John Marshall for 6 years and was stationed in Orlando, FL; Idaho Falls, ID; Pearl Harbor, HI; Charleston, SC; and Bremerton, WA.
In 1979, Rick married his high school sweetheart, Janet Gilsdorf, in Orlando, FL, while he attended Nuclear Power School. Together they travelled the world with their family and wonderful friends that will all miss him so much. His pride and joy were his family, who loved him so much. Papa Ski will especially be missed by Bryce, Lauren, Mikey, and Marleigh.
After his service to our Nation, Rick and Janet settled in Bridgman, MI where he worked for AEP at the D. C. Cook Nuclear Plant for 36 years. He held various titles and responsibilities including Q.C. Tech, up to Materials Manager, and overseeing the building of the off-site materials center, before retiring in 2020.
In his spare time when he was not globetrotting with his family and friends, Rick enjoyed a wide range of outdoor activities. He was an avid outdoorsman and deer hunter from his youth all the way to his final hunting season in 2024. He loved going on fly-in fishing trips to northwest Ontario and was also fortunate enough to bag his game of a lifetime when he and his twin brother Ray did a fly-in trip to harvest caribou. He was also a founding member and avid participant of the Alcohol Olympics, a.k.a. “Deer Camp,” which took place annually in the northern lower peninsula of Michigan, with a huge group of his friends from D.C. Cook.
Rick is survived by his wife of 45 years, Janet (Gilsdorf) Mankowski; sons, Jonathan (Amber) and Jerimiah Mankowski; grandchildren, Bryce McConnell, Lauren, Michael, and Marleigh Mankowski. Rick is also survived by his twin brother, Raymond (Denise) Mankowski; sister. Jacqueline (Chip) Tiedeman; brothers, Randy and Kevin (Michelle) Mankowski; mother, Lana (Bob) Nell; and father, Jim. He also had a great deal of aunts, uncles, and many cousins, who will all miss him dearly, as well as many honorary brothers, troublemakers, and hunting buddies in Michigan.
If you would like to make a donation in Rick’s name, his family suggests that it be to Agrace Hospice Care, Tunnel to Towers Foundation, or Wounded Warriors Foundation.
Graveside funeral services will be on Friday, April 11, 2025, at 1:00 p.m., in Roselawn Cemetery, 401 Femrite Drive, Monona, WI, followed by military honors. Friends may visit with the family on Thursday, April 10, 2025, from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Pflanz Mendrala Funeral Home, 430 W. Wisconsin Street, Portage, WI.
