Richard Lee Brockmeyer

Given his movie star good looks, it is appropriate that Richard Lee Brockmeyer was born in Hollywood General Hospital in Hollywood, CA on June 26, 1930. He passed away peacefully at 95 years old on July 3, 2025 at his home in Corona del Mar, CA. His death was natural, caused by having too many birthdays. He is preceded in death by his parents, Gilbert and Alma, his brother Gene, his daughter-in-law Janet and his wife Lois. He is survived by his brother Neal, his sons David and Douglas, and his grandchildren Meghan, Russell, Carson, Makenzie and Madison.

The first child of proud parents Gilbert and Alma Brockmeyer, Richard, or “Dick” as he was known, spent his early years in La Cañada, CA. His father worked at Arden Farms during much of Dick’s youth, eventually rising to vice president and a director. Dick attended Pasadena High School, where he had many close friends and had a reputation as a prankster. Since there were deep family ties to the Midwest, Dick spent his teenage summers working on the Iowa farms of various uncles. He later assisted his Uncle Milt’s veterinary practice with cattle, sheep and hog inoculations. After high school he attended Pasadena Junior College for a year. Then, given his love for Iowa, he chose Iowa State University for his undergraduate studies. He majored in food science, ultimately obtaining a master’s degree in food technology from UC Davis.

While at Iowa State, Dick met a remarkable young woman from northwest Iowa named Lois Burnstrom. A vivacious, outgoing beauty, Lois swept Dick’s heart away. They shared a storybook wedding in a tiny church in Paullina, Iowa on Halloween eve 1953.

Their first years of marriage were spent in Fortuna, CA while Dick served in the Army during the Korean War as a food inspector.

After his discharge from the Army, Dick and Lois moved to Garden Grove in 1955, where Dave was born in 1958 and Doug was born in 1960. Always looking to the future, Dick moved his young family to the beach area in a small, Newport Beach ranch-style house in 1965.

Unbeknownst to Richard at the time, their modest home in Dover Shores would become, over the years, the focal point for a large group of family, neighbors, friends, acquaintances, church associates and work colleagues. This happened because Richard never met a person he didn’t like. It didn’t hurt that Lois was a human dynamo. As a couple, they always saw the best in everyone and never said an unkind word. The foundation of this behavior was Richard’s and Lois’s Christian faith, which they practiced daily and nurtured at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach. In and out of church Richard was warm, generous and kind to everyone he met. If you came to the house, he always put you first. He listened. He was never boastful or arrogant. He led by example and made everyone around him feel comfortable and welcome. Thus, one friend at a time, one event at a time, one year at a time, Richard and Lois wove a vast, rich human tapestry of care and love.

Richard was an excellent athlete. He played football in high school and in junior college. He was an avid golfer and tennis player, with two holes-in-one to his credit. He introduced his family to skiing in the mid-60’s, leading to many ski and mountain adventures around the US and the world. He loved backpacking in the nearby mountains and Sierras with his wife and sons. In his later years he practiced yoga “to stay young for the ladies.”

Dick and Lois were known to their friends and family as world travelers. Lois would come up with some crazy idea, like an African safari, a trek to Mt. Everest basecamp, a visit to Swedish relatives, or bare boating in Fiji, and they would make it happen. As you might expect, during the process, Dick and Lois would expand their circle of friendship and kindness. An incredible number of families, friends, and acquaintances visited their home from travel-related invitations.

Dick and Lois moved from Newport Beach and bought a townhome in Jasmine Creek, Corona del Mar, in 1987. They continued living a rich, full and generous life. In 1995 they bought a beach house in Leucadia, CA and moved the party south. Get-togethers, parties, reunions, summer solstices, you name it, they were all celebrated with verve and gusto at the beach.

Richard had a long, successful career in the food processing industry, first with Arden Farms, then Evergreen Packaging and finally with International Paper.

Ultimately, time caught up with Dick and Lois. Lois unfortunately developed Alzheimer’s disease in 2005. They were ultimately forced to move back to Corona del Mar. Dick took wonderful care of Lois until her death in 2020.

After Lois’s death, Dick continued to live in Jasmine Creek. He led a full life, and continued to socialize with friends and family. On his last birthday, the 95th, we pulled a trick on him and reversed the numbers on his cake, making it 59. When the cake arrived, nonplussed, he said, “It’s about time you figured out my real age!” Carolyn Andrews, a Jasmine Creek neighborhood friend, became a steadfast and supportive companion in his last few years.

Our hearts are broken by the loss of Richard, but we have also been warmed by the generous, genuine outpouring of love for him. He truly was one of a kind. Once you walked in his door, he would instantly make you feel that you were the most important person in the world. He would ask after your family, offer a you drink (normally an aquavit shooter), then listen to you with utmost attention, all the while smiling and nodding, knowing that greatest gift was the gift of shared human experience.

We would also like to sincerely thank Ray Halvorsen, Larry Alade and Grady Lacuesta from Chamberlin Care, for their kindness and professionalism during the last 4 months of Richard’s life.

A celebration of life will be held in Richard’s honor at 11:00 am on Saturday September 13th, 2025 at St. Mark Presbyterian Church, 2200 San Joaquin Hills Road in Newport Beach, with a reception to follow.

Memorial Contributions can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at https://www.alz.org/.