Partly Cloudy, 35° F
(June 30, 2002)
Reece Bradley Schleich, 15, died near Newcastle on Sunday afternoon while participating in the InyanKara Enduro Motorcycle Race.
He was born Feb. 26, 1987 at Powell Hospital to Larry Dean and Terry Kaye (Funke) Schleich. He had completed the ninth grade at Powell High School this spring. He was baptized in the Catholic faith.
He was a member of the USA Wrestling team, a member of the Powell High School football and wrestling teams, Powell Baseball, Powell 4X4 club and the Big Horn Basin Motorcycle and ATV Club. He was a member of the class of 2005.
He was awarded the eighth grade Male Athlete of the Year, 2001 USA Wrestling state champion at 120 pounds and second place in Roman Greco wrestling. During his freshman year in wrestling at Powell High School, he was voted "Most Valuable Freshman Wrestler" and "Most Improved Freshman Wrestler."
His family remembers him with these thoughts:
"Reece was a delight from the very beginning. As he grew, his interests grew. He was a natural at so many things. His father taught him weight lifting techniques at an early age and he was proud of his muscles - always flexing to make sure they were still there!
"He loved dirt biking, football, wrestling and baseball. As we watched him in all these events, you could tell he was always giving 110 percent. He was a loving son and brother, sometimes he would disrespect his mother and take her down with a wrestling move!
"His brother and his friends took Reece under their wings and helped make him what he became. He loved his family, friends and his dog, Maggie. He was never afraid to show his love. He had so much heart!
"He lived his life to the fullest. Now that he is gone, we have him in our hearts and so many wonderful memories of him bringing pride to the family. His life was taken while he was doing what he loved most ... dirt biking. Everyone that knew Reece will remember him for his heart, his personality and his love of life."
He is survived by his loving parents, brother A.J. Schleich; grandparents Nadine Schleich and Babe Funke, all of Powell; aunts and uncles Dan and Marueen Funke of Boca Raton, Fla., Jim and Glenda Baird of Red Lodge, Mont., Sandy and Jerry Ellis of Cedaredge, Colo.; great-aunt Terry Hilliard of Casper; great-uncles and great-aunts Frank and Grace Anania of Omaha, Neb., and Walter and Pauline Cox of Seattle, Wash.; cousins Mike, Tanya and Mikey Funke, Laura and Greg Devine, Amy Baird, Brian, Jody, Josh and Jacob Baird, Kyle, Darcy and Brett Ellis; god-mother Ann E. Bancroft of Scandia, Minn.
He was preceded in death by his grandfather Harry Schleich, grandmother Mary Jane Funke, god-father Frankie Anania and great-aunt Helen McIntosh.
Visitation was Wednesday at Miratsky-Easton Funeral Home in Powell. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Friday at the Powell High School gymnasium with Father Pete Johnson officiating. Coaches Jim Zeigler and Jim Stringer along with Larry Akin will assist at the service. Cremation will follow the Friday services.
Should friends desire, memorials might be made to the Powell USA Wrestling Club in care of Karen Sullivan, the Powell 4X4 Track in care of Larry Akin or the BHBMAC in care of Randy Burke Sports.
Miratsky-Easton Funeral Home of Powell is in charge of arrangements.
