Richard R. Oldenburg

Richard “Dick” Oldenburg, 77, of Washington, Missouri peacefully passed away on March 29, 2021. Mr. Oldenburg, son of the late Robert and Rose Oldenburg of Galena Illinois, was born June 2, 1943 in Dubuque, Iowa. He received his secondary education from Galena High School. In 1966 he was drafted by the United States Army and served two years in Frankfurt, Germany. He earned his BA in Geography from the University Wisconsin-Platteville in 1972. On October 6, 1972 he was united in marriage to Catherine Malone Oldenburg. He then earned his MA in Urban and Regional Planning from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville in 1975. In 1975, Dick was employed by Franklin County as an Assistant Planning Director and later served as Director of Planning. In 1986, Dick became the first Director of Economic Development for the City of Washington, retiring in 2012.

Dick enjoyed gardening, cycling, reading a panoply of different newspapers and magazines, cooking, classical music, and wine. He was a long-standing member of the Washington Rotary Club and active parishioner of St. Francis Borgia.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Roger of Galena, Illinois. Among his survivors are his wife Cathie Oldenburg of Washington; three sons, Christopher Oldenburg and wife Carolyn of Jacksonville, Illinois; Daniel Oldenburg and wife Monica of Lincoln Nebraska, and Thomas Oldenburg and wife Laura of St. Louis, Missouri; siblings Roseanne Meinholz and husband Gary of Aurora, Illinois; thirteen grandchildren, Clare, Dominic, Cecilia Giana, Joseph, Brigid, Cora, Annaliese, Marin, Will, Ella, Noah, and Joan; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.           

Memorial services will be held at a later date.  

Memorial donations can be made to any local food bank, Feed America, Franklin County Community Resource Board (to aid the homeless) and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

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