Richard Pflipsen

Richard Pflipsen, age 79 Cold Spring December 19, 1931 – February 25, 2011 Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Cold Spring, MN for Richard Pflipsen, age 79, who died Friday at the St. Cloud Hospital after a courageous thirteen year battle with silicosis. Burial will be in the St. Boniface Parish Cemetery. Relatives and friends may call after 4:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Wenner Funeral Home in Cold Spring and from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. Wednesday morning in the Narthex of St. Boniface Church. The Knights of Columbus will pray a rosary at 4:00 p.m. and Parish Prayers will be at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday evening at the Wenner Funeral Home. Richard was born in New Munich, MN to Paul and Laura (Stroeing) Pflipsen . He married Dorothy Ruegemer on August 6, 1955 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in New Munich. They were blessed with three children who were the center of their lives. He was a member of St. Boniface Church where he served as an usher for fifty years and was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus. Before he was married, Richard worked on the oar boats for the Pittsburg Steamship Division on the Great Lakes and loved it. After marriage, he was employed by the Cold Spring Granite Company where he was known for his dedication, exceptional work ethic, and was a mentor for other employees for forty years. After retiring from the Granite Company in 1997 he took one year off and then worked as a delivery driver for the Cold Spring Bakery until 2008. Richard was a loving and dedicated husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. Camping, swimming, and snowmobiling are fond memories of time spent together. His pride and joy was working in his meticulous yard and garden. He could proudly boast about getting the first tomato of the season! He enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s theatrical, musical and sporting events. The Minnesota State Fair was an annual family outing for over forty-five years that included camping and later, hotel stays on Labor Day weekend. He never missed a St. John’s Football game, Vikings game or Twins game and was an avid ROCORI sports fan. If ever someone needed a lending hand, Richard was there to help. An example of this is his dedication and loyalty to the Red Cross as a blood donor. Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Dorothy; children, Deb (Rod) Jenderseck, St. Cloud, Randy, Cold Spring, Brian (Sandy) St. Joseph; grandchildren, Andrea, Christopher, Jennifer, Jordan, and Candace; great-grandchildren, Alayajah and Maleeah; brother, Charles (Arlene); brother-in-law, Loren Dierkhissing; sisters-in-law, Etta Pflipsen, and Mary Ann Pflipsen. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Allen, Donald, and sister, Marian Dierkhissing.