Rick A. Dingmann

MINNEAPOLIS - Rick A. Dingmann, 35, of Minneapolis and formerly of Richmond, Minn., and  Chippewa Falls, died suddenly at his home on Monday, Oct. 10, 2011.

Rick was born in St. Cloud, Minn., on July 27, 1976 and was raised in Richmond, graduating from Rocori High School in 1994. He liked to spend time at his family's cabin, and hunting and fishing with his parents Don and Mary Ann. While in school he was in sports and on the local baseball team.

As a young man he worked for the family business, Dingmann Construction Co. From 1995-2006 he moved out West and lived in California, Olympia, Wash., and Portland, Ore. Rick made many close friends there and remained in contact with them. He greatly appreciated his mom Mary Ann's baking and mailing her famous salsa and banana bread to him wherever he lived.

Rick loved traveling, cultures, nature and land conservation. He was self-employed in construction along with other jobs and most recently worked with Mirror Installation in Minneapolis and tinkered with bikes for resale. He was a jack of all trades; gardener, artist and fly fisherman, a guitar player, he especially liked the music of Bob Dylan and the Grateful Dead.

In 2004, Rick sought out adoption information about his birthparents and reunited with them in Chippewa Falls. He then moved to the Chippewa Valley to live from 2006-09. He enjoyed meeting many members of his biological family and retained a close relationship with them and friends. He frequently traveled home to Richmond to spend time with his family and loved ones. This adoption reunion allowed a close relationship with all his family spending time together. Rick was grateful for those special days.

Rick was a loving son, brother and playful uncle to five young children. He especially loved getting photos of his little "gentleman" Ryan.

Survivors include: his parents in Richmond,  Mary Ann and Donald Dingmann; brother Daniel (Mallory) Dingmann, Samantha (goddaughter), Drew Thomes (godson), grandmother Lorraine Thomes; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

He was preceded in death by: his grandparents, Gregor and Magdeline Dingmann; and Gregor Thomes.

Rick is also survived by: his birthmother, Sally J. (Mike) Foiles; three half-brothers, Eric (Erin), Nick (Anna) and Jordan Foiles; niece and nephews Aubrie, Braxtan, Ethan and Evan, all near Chippewa Falls; grandparents Glenn and Muriel Ostberg of Texas; and many relatives of the Foiles extended family in Cadott; and great grandma Jessie Franzwa of River Falls.

He was preceded in death by great grandparents Durwood Franzwa, and Rueben and Jenny Ostberg.

Rick is further survived by: his birthfather, Thomas S. Hartman of Chippewa Falls; two half-brothers, Ben Christopherson of Eau Claire and Jason Hartman and son in California.

Rick was also preceded in death by grandparents Sylvester and Carmen Hartman of Cadott.

A Mass of Christian burial was held Oct. 14 at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Richmond, with inurnment in the Sts. Peter & Paul Parish cemetery. Pallbearers were Dan Dingmann, Drew Thomes, Eric, Nick and Jordan Foiles, and Ben Christopherson.