Richard Rundquist

RICHARD A. RUNDQUIST, 85 ROCKFORD - Richard A. Rundquist, 85, of Rockford, died at 2 40 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, in SwedishAmerican Hospital. Born Nov. 6, 1927, in Rockford; the son of Fred and Esther Noling Rundquist. Graduate of East High School, Class of 1945, and Lake Forest College, Class of 1949 with a B.A. degree. Served as a Corporal in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He married Shirley J. Johnson on Oct. 17, 1953, in Rockford. She predeceased him March 22, 2008. Richard worked for Greenlee Bros. & Co., for 29 years, purchased Rockford Foundries, Inc. in 1978, then retired as the president/owner of Rockford Foundries, Inc. in 2008. He was a member of the American Foundrymen's Society, where he was the Stateline Chapter Chairman and on the A.F.S. National Board. Richard was the past president of the Rockford Association for Crippled Children, the Illinois Association for Crippled Children, and the Marsh School District #58. He also served as the past president and chief negotiator for the Rockford Board of Education. He was active on many executive boards, including Illinois State Board of Education, Rockford MetroCentre Board, SwedishAmerican Hospital Board, Mended Hearts Board, Midway Village Board, the Swedish Historical Board, and the SwedishAmerican Hospital Foundation Board. He was also a member of Rockford Rotary Club and the University Club. Richard was a member of Second Congregational/First Presbyterian Church of Rockford, where he was a member of the Rebuild Steering Committee and the Board of Trustees. Because of his active participation and leadership in the community, Richard received many awards, including Illinois Easter Seal Award in 1964, Rockford Chamber of Commerce Forward Rockford Award in 1979, the Rotary Service Above Self Award in 1987, and the Rockford Register Star Excalibur Award in 2009. He is survived by his children, Peter Becky Rundquist, John Paula Rundquist and Ann Rundquist; grandchildren, Nancy Bryan Deaton, Dave Danielle Rundquist, Cal, C.J., and Matt Clark; great-grandchildren, Gabe and Lucas Deaton; sister, Kathryn Mattison; and several nieces and nephews. Memorial service at 10 30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, in Second Congregational/First Presbyterian Church of Rockford, 318 N. Church St., with the Rev. Dr. J. Michael Solberg and Rev. Dr. Denver Bitner officiating. Memorial visitation from 9 to 10 15 a.m. prior to the service in the church. Private burial in Scandinavian Cemetery. Memorials may be made to SwedishAmerican Hospital Foundation, 1401 E. State St., Rockford, IL 61104; or to the Swedish Historical Society, P.O. Box 5443, Rockford, IL 61125. Arrangements by Olson Funeral & Cremation Services Ltd. To share a memory or condolence, visit olsonfh.com.