Section: 327 Lot: 55 Grave: 3
Richard Frank Oppenheimer
Born: December 25th, 1926
Died: September 13th, 2020
Obituary
Richard Frank Oppenheimer, 93, of Burlington, died at 11:58 AM Sunday, September 13, 2020, at the OakView Nursing Home and Rehabilitation in Burlington.
Born December 25, 1926, in Fort Madison, he was the son of John Paul and Myrtle Louise Moertel Oppenheimer. On August 5, 1950, he married Carol Ruth Shaw in St. John's Catholic Church, Burlington. She died on May 6, 2009.
He was a member of Divine Mercy Parish, where he was an usher at Sunday Mass and sang in the Resurrection Choir.
Dick was a 1945 graduate of Fort Madison High School and attended Burlington Junior College after serving one year in the United States Merchant Marines and a two year tour of duty in the United States Navy. He also attended Kansas City Jr. College and the Kansas City Art Institute.
He has spoken often of his adventures in the Merchant Marine and U.S. Navy service that took him to Africa, South America, the Pacific Ocean Area, and other parts of the world.
Dick was a career salesman and worked for White House Dairy, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company as a Field Representative in NW Iowa. He owned and operated his own Oppenheimer Distributing Company where he sold Goodyear Tires.Retirement years brought Carol and Dick back to Burlington where he built their home on Madison Avenue. His activities included volunteering at the Hawkeye Log Cabin in Crapo Park, golfing, bowling, fishing, singing in the Silver Singers Group. He was a loyal Iowa Hawkeye fan and later, he returned to his college art painting pastime. He belonged to a pinochle club and a bridge club.
Survivors include his two daughters, Joanna (Reese) Morgan of Coralville and Janette (Charles) Burkhart of Belvidere, IL; one son, Jeff Richard (Thu) Oppenheimer of Monrovia, IN; four granddaughters and one grandson, Jennifer, Bridget, Jamie, Aja and Austin; two step-granddaughters and two step grandsons, Jessica, Caitlin, Jason and Clinton; twelve great-grandchildren, Jazymn, Morgan, Cameron, Koen, Cade, Carina, Peyton, Hayden, Jace, Lillian, Kellan and Oscar; one brother, Tom Oppenheimer of Fort Madison; and one sister, Mary Lou Huffaker.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Carol Ruth (Shaw), one son, Jon Douglas Oppenheimer, his parents, John and Myrtle Oppenheimer, three brothers, Robert, Donald and James Oppenheimer, and one sister, Mildred.
The Graveside Committal Service for Mr. Oppenheimer will be 1:00 PM Tuesday, September 15, 2020, at Aspen Grove Cemetery with Rev. James Flattery officiating. Full military honors will be rendered by the Burlington Area Veterans Honor Guard.