Rd Hollenbeck

Richard "RD" Ernest Hollenbeck, Jr. died after a short yet furious war with cancer. When he was
born, the world became a better place. Tall, witty, silly, talented, adventurous, a WWII buff,
adorably shy, a voracious reader, intelligent, irreverent, curious, loving, kind, loyal, interesting,
and a man who could fix or build most anything, from a short story to a house.
RD was born on the fourth of July in Phoenix, AZ to Pamela Hollenbeck (née Townsend) and
Richard Hollenbeck, Sr. He spent childhood summers and holidays at the Rain Valley Ranch in
Sonoita, Arizona, which his grandparents purchased in 1949. Many memories persisted from his
time at the ranch, including the smell of rain, Sandy, the best horse ever, newborn calves,
shouting "faster, faster" from the tailgate, and Ms. Leon's tortillas. These memories were shared
with his sister, Monica, cousins (Andrea, Audrey, Amie, Kate, David, Dierdre, Mark, and
Michael), as well as his aunts and uncles (Grace and Michael Wystrach, Sally, and the late James
Sabow). He attended Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix and credited the Jesuits with
teaching him to think critically and instilling a lifelong quest for knowledge. After high school,
he earned his BA in Journalism with a minor in Poli Sci from the University of Arizona. He went
on to earn his Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Colorado State University, where he
met his wife, Kandie. He wrote gritty and voice-driven stories. At the same time, he learned how
to build just about anything in the world of construction. After graduate school, he traveled
extensively for long periods, taught English in Korea, and became a General Contractor and
owner of Diamond Tail Construction.
RD and Kandie went separate ways for too long but found each other again. They were hashtag
relationship goals and were the happiest couple they knew. They built their lives in the Morongo
Basin, where RD began a new company, Concrete Detail. He was a hardgoods fabricator,
designing and building concrete installations, furniture, along with smaller items that for a time
he sold at the Joshua Tree Farmer's Market. RD was a doggedly devoted son, brother, father,
grandpa, nephew, friend, and dog dad. He was preceded in death by his father Richard
Hollenbeck, Sr. and will be profoundly missed by his wife, Kandie St.Germain Hollenbeck, his
mother Pamela Hollenbeck, his sister Monica Woudenberg, nieces, Elizabeth and Emma
Woudenberg, stepchildren, Buz Wallick (Mary), Hugo Fowler (Ruth), Winnie Kelley, Charles
"Bear" Kelley, grandchildren Vivian Beard and Philip Wallick, and his doggies, Gus, Sherman,
and Jyn.
As long as we have breath, we will never forget him. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the
Joshua Tree No-Kill Animal Shelter, Planes of Fames Air Museum in Chino, CA, or to City of
Hope, who tried their best to save this great man.