10/21/2020 8:33:00 AM Funeral Mass for Richard Pingel Oct. 23 in Rochester
Richard Carl Pingel, 86 of Rochester, died peacefully surrounded by love on Oct. 19, 2020.
Richard was born at St. Anthony's Hospital in Rock Island, Illinois on May 27, 1934, to Earl and Rosalia (Showalter) Pingel. He graduated from Alleman High School in 1952, where he participated in various sports. Richard served in the U.S. Army for seven years, including active duty and reserve. He attended St. Ambrose College studying engineering and worked in mechanical design for multiple companies.
In 1959 Richard married Mary "Molly" Hurley at the Assumption Church in Granger, Iowa. In 1968 he joined IBM in Rochester where he became a senior associate engineer in mechanical development and worked for 24 years. Richard moved his family to Stewartville in 1969, where his children attended school. While raising their family, Richard and Molly were foster parents for many infants through Catholic Charities who were later adopted by families. Richard and Molly relocated to Rochester in 1992 after his retirement from IBM. In retirement, Richard joined the Kiwanis Golden K-Club in Rochester and enjoyed volunteering at John Adams Middle School and working part-time at John Marshall High School. In retirement, Richard and Molly also enjoyed spending winters at their second home in Sahuarita, Arizona. Since 2018 Richard and Molly resided at The Homestead in Rochester.
Richard relished spending time with family and friends, and particularly enjoyed the outdoors, especially gardening, bicycling, and canoeing in the Minnesota Boundary Waters Canoe Area. His hobbies included making furniture through woodworking and creating lovely paintings and chalk drawings.
Richard is survived by his wife Mary "Molly" of Rochester, daughters, Paula (David) of Tucson, Arizona, Teresa (Patrick) of River Falls, Wisconsin, and Kathleen (Ron) of Hanover; sons, Thomas (Kim) of Mantorville, Daniel (Cara) of Lakeville, Martin (Lisa) of Neenah, Wisconsin, and Joseph of Rochester; his sister, Rita (William) and brother Edward (Mary); 16 grandchildren, Matthew, Rebecca, Kayla, Kelley, Erik, Jacob, Jonah, Kari, Keeghan, Benjamin, Ryley, Margaret, MaKayla, Zoey, Emma, Blake); and great-grandchildren, Karmen, William, Lilly, Liam, and Jade.
Richard is preceded in death by his sister, Ellyn Stych.
The Funeral Mass for Richard will be held on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Rochester with Father Thomas Loomis officiating. Visitation will be held on Thursday evening, Oct, 22, 2020 from 5-7 p.m. in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home and one hour prior to the Mass on Friday. Burial will be in Pleasant Prairie Cemetery of Rochester. Please attend wearing a mask.
The family would like to thank Father Tom Loomis along with Kasey, Helen, Jane, and Chi Chi from Mayo Hospice for the wonderful support and care they provided. Also, a special thank you to Tom and Kim Pingel for care in their home during Richard's final days.
Memorials are preferred to Holy Spirit Catholic Church or the Ronald McDonald House. Online condolences are welcome at the Macken Funeral Home.
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