Obituary
Richard (Rick) Mundt
Richard (Rick) Mundt died peacefully at Gundersen Hospital on February 5, 2024 due to complications from cancer. He was born in Brookings, South Dakota on July 5, 1950 to Ivan and Bertha Mundt, who adopted him at birth. Rick grew up on the family farm and their Lake Poinsett resort. He graduated from Lake Norden High School in 1968 and attended South Dakota State University where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture in 1972. He farmed and worked at Land O’ Lakes until his retirement.
Though he always considered South Dakota his home, he spent the rest of his life in the La Crosse area near his large family of aunts, uncles and cousins. His work included: massage therapist; stocking at Sam’s Club; teaching English in Luoyang, China through the La Crosse/Luoyang sister city program, and assisting and supporting Chinese teachers who came to La Crosse through the sister city program. The friends he made through his work in China became his family as well.
Rick’s many interests included movies, rock music and martial arts. He kept a detailed journal of his experiences in China. He was an avid walker and biker, exploring the area and making friends as he went. A kind, gregarious and curious man, Rick made friends easily. He was always interested in everyone’s news and was generous with his time and help for all his friends and extended family. As health issues popped up in recent years, he used text and email to stay connected to his network of friends and family.
Rick was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by many cousins and caring friends both here, in Luoyang, China, and throughout the country. He was a caring, kind, loyal and generous friend and family member. May we all be so lucky to have someone like Rick in our lives.
The family would like to thank Dr. Ojelabi and Dr. Crosby and the rest of the oncology staff at Gundersen Health System for the care and optimism they provided.
A celebration of life will be held on Thursay, February 22, 2024 at The Gathering Place, 133 Mason Street, Onalaska from 4:00-6:00 pm CT, with a service at 5:30 pm (6:30 am in Luoyang). The service will be live-streamed via Zoom
If you would like to remember Rick in a special way, memorial donations in his name can be mailed to Riverside International Friendship Gardens, P.O. Box 3473, La Crosse WI, 54602-3473.
To live-stream the service, download the Zoom app and click HERE
Rick was a gentleman. Careful to speak kind words. His devotion to his Luoyang friends was deep and it warms me to see that well reflected in this life story. Quite a big statement of a good life to have this much respect and love from people so far away, and also from home.