Richard C. Starke Jr.

Richard (Rick) Clement Starke, Jr., 76, of Woodbury, MN passed away on Wednesday, March 1 at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center. His wife, Patti, and his four children were with him at his bedside when he passed.

Rick was born on November 30, 1946, in Los Angeles, CA to parents Richard Starke, Sr. and Flora (Delano).

Rick attended high school in Dover, DE. Following high school, he voluntarily joined the United States Marine Corps and served in Vietnam in the Third Force Recon.

Upon his return, he attended the University of Delaware in Newark, DE and received bachelor’s degree in accounting. He was a certified public accountant for various accounting firms in Washington, D.C.; and he was a certified auditor for numerous companies in MN.

Throughout his life, physical fitness played a significant and central role in Rick’s life. He was a weightlifter at Gold’s Gym, and he was a skilled bicycler and runner. Rick also enjoyed rowing with a team on the Occoquan and Potomac Rivers.

Rick met his wife, Patti, in November of 1986 in Arlington, VA. They were married on July 16, 1988. Rick and Patti enjoyed sailing their 36-foot sloop, Zephyr, on the Chesapeake Bay for three years. Rick was a licensed captain, and Patti was always in safe hands as Rick navigated the Chesapeake Bay, visiting multiple islands, marinas, and other destinations. In later years Rick sailed their sailboat “Moondance” on the St. Croix River out of Bayport Marina.

Rick was a great supporter of the arts, and he and Patti attended many seasons of ballet, opera, symphony, and theatre at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. His favorite performance was the Nutcracker, performed by the Bolshoi Ballet company and starring Mikhail Baryshnikov.

Rick and Patti were blessed with four children who he absolutely adored. As a family, the Starkes shared in many adventures together, including sailing on the St. Croix River, attending MN Vikings football games, fishing throughout MN, and gardening at home. He enjoyed many family vacations and road trips to Cocoa Beach, FL, Rehoboth Beach, DE, Washington DC, Roanoke, VA, Montana, Yellow Stone National Park, the Black Hills, Grand Teton National Park, Disney World and Disney Land.

In the kitchen, Rick was a gourmet cook. His specialties included: pastas made from scratch (especially spaghetti and ravioli), authentic Italian spaghetti sauce, giant pots of Jambalaya, homemade rolls and breads, Turkey dinner (enough to feed an army), and the BEST omelets.

Rick was a ferocious reader and he consumed ALL varieties of books: classic literature, fantasy, horror, science fiction, biography, history, and current political essays. He also discovered the world of Harry Potter with his children, and he read the whole series aloud to them.

Prayer was central to his life. He prayed daily, both morning and evening, with Patti. They prayed the Rosary daily during Lent. He also said evening prayers with his children.

Rick was a proud and dedicated veteran throughout his life. In the decade following the Vietnam War, Rick was active in fundraising for the Vietnam War Memorial. He was also life-long member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). As an active participant in the Woodbury VFW Post 9024, Rick participated in the honor guard and served in various roles during many Woodbury Memorial Day ceremonies. Rick’s veteran memorial paver, dedicated for his service, can be visited at the Woodbury Veterans Memorial in Woodbury, MN.

Rick is survived by his wife, Patti and their four children; his brother, Todd (Carol); his sister, Carlene; and countless nephews, nieces, and friends.

Rick was preceded in death by his father and mother, Richard Sr. and Flora (Delano) Starke; brothers, Brant and Jamie; and father and mother-in-law, Woodrow Wilson (Bud) and Irene (Hoey) Bitney.

Funeral services will be held at the Fort Snelling Memorial Chapel, 1 Tower Ave., Minneapolis, MN, on Friday, April 14 at 12:00 pm. Bishop Richard Pates will be officiating. Music will be provided by Roxy Stouffer Cruz.

Burial, including full military honors, will take place at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.