Richard C. Dick Biedermann

Richard C. (Dick) Biedermann died Monday, October 3, 2011 following a long battle with heart disease. He was born May 28, 1922 in Chicago, Ill. to Walter and Louise (Schmitt) Biedermann. Dick attended schools on the South Side of Chicago where he grew up, and was active in Sea Scouting and ROTC at Tilden Technical High School, and was always a White Sox fan. He pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology, while doing work/study at places like Gary, Indiana steel mills. World War II intervened and Dick enlisted in the Navy in 1944 and achieved the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade. The War took him to tropical places like Cuba, the Panama Canal, and Hawaii and this began a life-long love of Hawaii and travel. After being discharged in 1946, Dick earned his Master’s in Business from Indiana University. Dick met the love of his life, Frances (Lucylle) Robinson, and they married in Oak Park, Ill. January 1949. They lived in Wheaton, Illinois for the next quarter century raising three daughters while Dick worked at the Sears Roebuck & Co. Chicago headquarters as a buyer. He also worked as a buyer and account executive for Gamble Skogmo and Valspar Corp. and in his later career was a licensed realtor and instructor at Southwest Missouri State University. In retirement, Dick was constantly and tirelessly busy with philanthropic work, an ethic that he passed to his children. Ronald McDonald House in Springfield, MO., Tulsa Chapter of Alzheimer’s Association, the Men’s Club of St. Benedict’s Church, United Way, and the St. Elizabeth Lodge were a few of his favorite causes. As recently as May 2011, Dick was a primary fundraiser for Tulsa’s first-ever “Oklahoma Honor Flight”, a national non-profit founded to send World War II vets to see the WWII monument in Washington, D.C. Dick was scheduled to be on that inaugural flight in June but, sadly, his health did not allow it. As if all this wasn’t enough to keep him as busy as he wanted to be, he also was active in two hobby clubs and enjoyed model ship building and golf. Dick and Fran loved to travel and during their retirement were busy taking their Airstream trailer on numerous “caravan” trips with other Airstreamers. Besides seeing most every state in the lower forty-eight, Canada, and Mexico via trailer, they also traveled to Europe and Dick’s beloved Hawaii. They had many excellent adventures and met lots of wonderful people. Dick also loved to dance, and he was good at it! Big Band music from the old Aragon Ballroom in Chicago really got his feet tapping. Most recently, he was known to be the “designated dance partner” for other residents at The Parke Assisted Living Center and he “danced” at his granddaughter’s wedding in May from his wheelchair. We imagine him finally able to dance with Fran again. Dick hadn’t lived in Tulsa more than a few years, but made many friends here, as he did so easily with his out-going, gregarious personality. He was always grateful for those friendships. He was a devout Catholic and valued the parishes of St. Bernard’s and St. Benedict’s as well as his good friend and pastor, Monsignor Gaallaas. Dick was predeceased by his wife Fran, whom he called “Doll”, in 2009. He had been her caregiver during her decade-long battle with Alzheimer’s and loved her to the end. They celebrated 60 years of married life two months before her death. He is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Leonard and Helen Biedermann of Woodstock, IL. Dick leaves behind three daughters: Nancy (Jim) MacLachlan of Spring Lake, MI, Carol (Mic) Armstrong of Sparta, WI. and Lynn Schmuhl of Tulsa. He also leaves seven grandchildren: Brian (Nicole) MacLachlan, Brad (Melinda) MacLachlan, Megan (Jake) Freed, Karen (Josh) Walker, Kimberly Schmuhl, Matthew Armstrong, and Amanda (Kevin) Moore. Dick is survived by 4 great-grandchildren: Madison, Skyler, Riley, and 3 week-old Brady MacLachlan. He also has two step great-grandchildren, Raleigh and Zoe Walker. It took a village to walk with Dick in these last months of his life. The family is very grateful for all the care of him and us that was given by so many: doctors, therapists, nurses, etc including The Parke Assisted Living, Marsha and Tim Cowan, Judy and Scott Toman, Joni Madson, Dr. Wayne Pue, The Garden’s Nursing Home (thanks PTA Mike and others), St. Simeon’s and St. Francis Hospice. Dick’s life will be celebrated Thursday, October 6 at 11am at a Mass of the Resurrection. Monsignor Patrick Gaalaas will be the celebrant at St. Bernard’s Church, Tulsa, OK. Family and friends are invited to meet the family after Mass in the parish hall for lunch. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, Tulsa, OK with full military honors by the VFW and Patriot Guard Riders following lunch. The family is being served by Southwood Colonial Chapel. Please consider Alzheimer’s Association for any memorials. Fitzgerald Southwood Colonial Chapel

Richard C. Dick Biedermann

May 28, 1922 - October 3, 2011