A funeral service will be held for Richard Rodney Ringel at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Estherville, Iowa, with Pastor Lori Westfall officiating. Family and friends are invited to a visitation at the church beginning one hour prior to the service.
Following the ceremony, Richard will be laid to rest at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery in rural Petersburg, Minnesota.
Richard Rodney Ringel, 94 of Milford, Iowa passed away at the Good Samaritan Society in Estherville, Iowa on April 23, 2026. Richard was born on December 27, 1931, in Petersburg, Minnesota. He was the son of Albert and Lillian (Meyer) Ringel.
Richard grew up on a farm in Petersburg, and this is where he attended school. Richard served in the United States Navy and was honorably discharged due to a family emergency in 1951.
Richard married Florence Mary Weir on March 13, 1952, in Jackson, Minnesota. Together they raised four girls, Sherry-Kim, Tamye, Kande and Michelle. Richard loved his harem! Richad and Mary later divorced.
Richard married Jean Frances Pohl on June 27, 1986, in Emmetsburg, Iowa.
Over the years, Richard had various jobs. He farmed with his father in Petersburg, Minnesota; he worked for REA (Rural Electric Association) climbing telephone poles in Welcome, Minnesota; Slayton Telephone Co, Slayton, Minnesota; Sears & Roebuck, owned a restaurant called Triple RRR and Dale Jacobsen Engineering all in Estherville, Iowa. He also worked for Martin & Associates, Mitchell, South Dakota; farmed with Doug and Sherry for 10 years; Richard and Jean ran a restaurant in Trimont, Minnesota; raised pigs while living in Odin, Minnesota; and surveyed for Dickinson County until he was 82 years old, when he retired.
Richard was an avid gardener, a talented woodworker, He made kitchen cabinets for Sherry and Doug; he built two of his homes and designed/remodeled his current home. Richard enjoyed restoring old cars, Mustangs, Corvettes, and putting together die cast model cars, especially cars from the 1930s.
Richard was a member of the Shriners and the Masonic Temple.
Richard loved his family gatherings, his dogs throughout the years, especially Frosty, Franz, Pepper, Dollie and Cleo. He had a pet pig named Wheels that was crippled so he made him wheels for the pig’s front legs so it could move around.
Richard is survived by his wife, Jean; his daughters, Sherry-Kim (Doug) Nelson, Tamye Ringel, Kande (Rick) Petersen, and Michelle (Steve) Rozendaal; step-son, Steven Pohl; his grandchildren, Chad (Stephanie) Petersen, David (Andrea) Nelson, Reagan, Greysen, and Caeden; Zack (Anna) Rozendaal, Valerie and Henry; Adam Rozendaal; Jaime (Nate) Hellmann, Dane and Jaylia; Sean Ringel; Kimberly Caven (Matthew Abbot), Cannon, Emree, Kora and Cooper; and Jeremy (Sarah) Nelson, Addison; and his sisters, Shirley (Lou) Corwin and Colene (Fred) Mansmith.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents, infant grandson, Bryan Nelson, son of Sherry and Doug, and his ex-wife, Mary Mountain.
Memorials may be left in Richard’s memory to Redeemer Lutheran Church, Estherville.
Richard’s family would like to say a special Thank You to Pastor Lori Westfall, Lakes Regional Healthcare, Dr. Van der Leest, St. Croix Hospice and the Good Samaritan Society-Estherville.
Online condolences may be left for Richard’s family at HenryOlsonFuneral.com
