Richard Rigdon Middendorf

Richard Rigdon Middendorf
Jacksonville - Richard Rigdon Middendorf, 81, of Jacksonville, IL, died Saturday, May 7, 2022, at his home.
He was born Aug. 3, 1940, in Jacksonville, the son of Alvin D. and Lois Rigdon Middendorf. He married Sharon Marie Kelly on June 19, 1960, and they later divorced.
He is survived by Sharon of Jacksonville; one son and two daughters, John Richard "J.R." (Dottie) Middendorf, Shelley Marie Hynes and Mike Magner, and Crista Shonay Middendorf, all of Jacksonville; eight grandchildren, Ashley Garrett, Jena (Matt) Smith, Kelsey (Greg) Gebhardt, Jordan Watkins, Macey Hynes, Dietrich (Isabella) Reardon, Kellen Reardon, and Anna Middendorf; eleven great grandchildren; one brother, Garland Alvin (Sydney) Middendorf of Columbia, MO; sister-in-law, Carol Middendorf of Jacksonville; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; two grandchildren, Shelley Jo Hynes and Logan Hynes; a great granddaughter, Sunday Grace Smith; a brother, David Ward Middendorf; and two sons-in-law, Paul "Henry" Hynes and Kevin Watkins.
Mr. Middendorf was a 1959 graduate of Jacksonville High School. He then graduated from Hardin-Brown Business College. While in high school, he attended and graduated from Repperts School of Auctioneering in Decatur, IN. He then started his career, along with his brother David, in the Auctioning/Real Estate Business, following in the footsteps of their father and uncle, who started the family business in 1938. He was a member of Grace United Methodist Church, Jacksonville Jaycees, Ferris Wheeler's Barbershop Chorus, Kiwanis Club, and was a lifetime member of the Jacksonville Elks.
Richard enjoyed his annual fishing trip with the Farmers State Bank Fishing Team. He was a racing enthusiast, attending the Chili Bowl in Tulsa, OK, the Knoxville National Speedway, the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame, and was a fixture at the Jacksonville Speedway. He was proud of the many charity auctions he was involved with, both in the Jacksonville Community and across the country. He especially loved spending time with his family and friends.
A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, May 12, 2022, at the Buchanan & Cody Funeral Home in Jacksonville. The family will meet friends 9:30-11 a.m. prior to the service. A private burial will be held at Jacksonville Memorial Lawn Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Morgan County Fair Board for the construction of the Richard Middendorf Grandstand Handrail Fund. Condolences may be left at buchanancody.com.