Richard Monroe Rummel

Richard was born the day before the Stock Market Crash, October 28, 1929, in Portland Oregon, to Richard Monroe Rummel, Sr., and Mary Margaret (Bewley) Rummel.

Dick spent his childhood in Seattle and his teen years in Chicago. He graduated from Lyons Township High School in La Grange, Illinois, in 1947. He received his Bachelor's degree from the University of Washington followed by Master's degrees in both Theology and Philosophy from St. Albert's Seminary in Oakland, California. In 1967 he served as a Job Corps Counselor at Parks Job Corps Center in Pleasanton, California. He then became a Supervisor of Clinical Pastoral Education, serving for 26 years as Director of Chaplains at Fulton State Hospital.

Dick was a watercolor and sketch artist who extended his passion for art to the patients in the Biggs unit. One way he ministered to them was by listening to them while sketching the individual, then giving him the mounted portrait. Throughout his career at FSH, including his volunteer work after retirement in 1994, he did over 300 portraits that were cherished by the men who gave them to their mothers or proudly displayed them in their rooms.

Dick is survived by his wife, Sylvia Swain Rummel, of 55 years. Also surviving are their two children, Nathan Rummel (Ponder Natasha), Sarah Backer (David), grandchildren Nicholas Rummel, Harrison Backer (Elaine), Matthew Backer, Daniel Backer, Lydia Backer, Vivian Backer, Charlotte Backer and great-grandchildren Miriam & Lewis Backer.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 from 10:00 am – 11:00 am at St Peter Catholic Church, Fulton, MO. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:00 am at the church with Fr Joseph Abah officiating Inurnment will be at a later date in Hillcrest Cemetery in Fulton, MO.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to St Peter Catholic Church, c/o Debo Funeral Home, 833 Court St, Fulton, MO 65251.