Richard Henry Doom

Mass of Christian Burial for Richard “Dick” Doom, 88, of Marshall, will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church.  Visitation will be Monday, September 18, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with a CCW Rosary at 5:00 p.m. and a Parish Prayer Service at 7:30 p.m. at the Horvath Remembrance Center in Marshall.  (Parking available north of the building.)  Visitation will continue on Monday from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. at the remembrance center.  Interment will follow the service at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Marshall.

Richard “Dick” Henry Doom was born to Maurice and Margaret (Cauwels) Doom on March 16, 1935, in Ghent MN. His father died when he was four years old, leaving his mother with five children under the age of six. Since they would have no father in their home, his mother made sure that her children had the spiritual presence of our Heavenly Father in their home and raised all her children to have a strong Catholic faith. Even in the McLaughlin Hospice House when dementia had taken its toll, Richard remembered to say his prayers, especially before meals.

Richard’s (his mother never referred to him as anything but Richard) childhood was filled with work and family responsibility. He and his siblings all worked to support their family. Richard worked for local farmers. His family grew a large garden together and he continued to garden until he could no longer physically do the work. The family did not have running water in their home until Richard and his brother Francis were old enough to dig the trenches for the waterlines. He served as an altar boy at daily morning Mass at St. Eloi’s Church in Ghent from second grade through sixth grade and still remembered some of the Latin spoken. He continued his service to the Catholic Church throughout his life serving as an usher and on the Holy Redeemer School Board of Education.

Tall and good-looking, Richard met sweet and petite Janet Cuypers at Marshall Senior High School and asked her out upon his sister Lorraine’s suggestion. They went to Senior Prom together. Then graduated in the spring of 1953. Richard attended Dunwoody Institute for carpentry for two years. He hitchhiked between Ghent and Minneapolis to spend time with Janet on weekends. They were married on September 10, 1955, and they were blessed with five children.

Having a good mother and supportive siblings made him appreciate the power and love of a family. Losing his father at an early age made him strive to be a good husband and father. He rarely missed an opportunity to say “I love you” to his kids. He adored Janet and always opened her car door until physically unable and expressed his love to Janet, remembering her birthday and their anniversary and leaving her sweet, loving notes. After a stroke in 2006, Janet looked after him lovingly and when she caught him doing something he shouldn’t and called him out, he responded “Is that what you think?” Even after a stroke, he remained witty although he had lost his “memory bank.”

His childhood made him an exceptionally industrious worker. He learned to give a fair day’s work in exchange for his pay and expected that from his employees. He often said, “Any job worth doing is worth doing well.” He trusted others and worked to earn their trust in return. He always answered the phone with “Hello, Richard Doom speaking” as an owner and operator of Doom & Cuypers Construction. Originally, he was partners with his father-in-law Wes Cuypers. He built homes and commercial buildings in southwestern Minnesota, and numerous US Postal Service facilities throughout MN, SD, ND, IA, and WI. His son Steve worked with him from an early age and now owns and operates Doom & Cuypers with his son, John, and son-in-law Corey. Throughout good times and rough times, it has been in business since 1931.

He loved a rare steak, crispy hashbrowns, Janet’s banana cream or butterscotch pie, a juicy ripe garden-fresh tomato, and a scotch (Johnny Walker Red) and water. He also enjoyed watching the Minnesota Vikings, and a good off-color joke. He enjoyed his lake cabin on West Battle Lake most when his children and grandchildren came to spend time there. Camp Kawinogans held a special place in his heart, and he often shared the comradery of a Canadian fishing trip with friends and family. He and Janet had a fun circle of friends with whom they played cards, held birthday celebrations, played practical jokes on one another, partook in an annual Super Bowl Party, and had Saturday night supper at the Nickel after 5pm Mass.

If you asked him what he was most proud of it would be his 68-year marriage, his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and being the “Builder of Marshall’s most distinguished homes.”  Often, relators would mention, that the house was “Doom built” when listing a home. He was a proud member of the Third- and Fourth-Degree Knights of Columbus and served as Grand Knight of the Holy Redeemer Council 1621.

Richard died on Thursday, September 14, 2023, at the Prairie Home Hospice McLaughlin House in Marshall.

Deeply saddened by his death; but grateful for his presence in their lives, are his wife Janet; son Steve (Deb), daughter Paula (Greg) Boerboom, son John (Shelley) of Colorado Springs, CO, son Pat (Dar) and son Mike (Nico). Grandchildren Amanda (Corey) Kline, John (Hope) Doom, Alissa (Francis) Otaigbe, Abbie Doom (Joe Bennett), Laurie Boerboom (Bryce Jensen), Mike (Megan) Boerboom, Matt (Emily) Boerboom, Zachary Doom, Mariah Doom (Dylan Benoit), Megan (Kyle) Swanson, Kate (Saul) Calderon, Jenna (Zachary) Like, Sam Doom (Ayub Mohamed), Liz, Mary, Ellie, and Isaiah Doom.  And twenty-one great-grandchildren plus two more on the way. He also leaves behind three sisters: Rosemary (Joe) VanKeulen, Lorraine (Joe) Tardy and Marina Grow and exceptional and loyal former employee, Kay Rys.

Richard is preceded in death by one infant great-grandson, Bralyn, his parents, Maurice and Margaret, his brother, lifelong friend and fishing partner, Francis, brother-in-law Gary Grow, in-laws Wes and Leona Cuypers, Ronnie Cuypers, Maydene Cuypers, Bonnie and Denis Matthys, Mary and Bernie Matthys, and JoAnn Cuypers. He is also preceded in death by many friends that he and Janet made over the years.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Holy Redeemer Church Foundation or Prairie Home Hospice.