Richard Marius Tempero

On Monday October 24, 2022, Richard Marius Tempero, loving husband, brother, cousin, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, mentor, and friend, passed away at the age of eighty-five. Born July 19, 1937, to Howard and Lucile Lalouette Tempero, “Dick,” as he was fondly known to friends and family, was an avid learner and took strides early in life to educate himself, broaden his perspectives, and reach new horizons. He was an active youth involved in sports, music, and Boy Scouts, in which he earned Eagle Scout status. After graduating from Hahn High School in Wayne, Nebraska, he went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska in 1959. There he was active in student government, wrote for the campus newspaper and was a member of Theta Xi Fraternity. He received his law degree from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 1962. He spent the next 30 years in various roles and facets of law from courtroom practice to executive and administrative positions until his retirement in the mid 1990s. He was politically active and committed to good government and social justice. Highlights of his career include: beginning his career in private practice with Cline Williams Wright Johnson & Oldfather in Lincoln NE, Director of the Economic and Law Student Division for the American Bar Association in Chicago IL, working with a computer-oriented consulting company in Palo Alto CA, associate director of field organization for Common Cause in Washington DC and minority counsel for the House Subcommittee on Government Operations. In 1977 he moved his family to Des Moines, IA to be the administrative partner for Davis, Hockenberg, Wine, Brown, Koehn & Shors and then became the Executive Director of the Association of Legal Administrators (which included a several-year commitment to a weekly commute from Des Moines to Chicago IL), and ended his career by leading the Des Moines Charter Commission effort to unify the governments of the City of Des Moines and Polk County.

During law school, Dick married Nancy Spilker and they had one daughter, Allison. After graduating from law school, Dick served in the US Army in Korea after the Korean War and was promoted to the rank of captain. Dick had met Sue Ann Carkoski when they were in high school in different small northeastern Nebraska towns and they also crossed paths at the University of Nebraska. They reconnected when both were working in Chicago. He spent several years courting her, which included trips to Hawaii to woo her back to the mainland. His efforts were ultimately successful, and they began their life together in 1970. Their 52-year marriage found them living in various places including Chicago IL, Palo Alto CA, Alexandria VA, Des Moines IA, and Indianapolis IN. While in Des Moines, Dick was an active member of Rotary (for whom he led an exchange trip to Guatemala) and the Iowa Bar Association, as well as many other community and educational groups including Friendship Force, which took them to Venezuela, Japan, Korea, and New Zealand. In 1996 Sue who was the VP of Human resources at the Des Moines Register accepted a similar position at the Indianapolis Star/News and they moved to Indianapolis IN and settled into their favorite lakeside home in the city. After her retirement, they continued to live in Indianapolis and become involved in the community.

Dick was recognized with the esteemed Distinguished Service Award by the Nebraska Alumni Association in 2015, highlighting his commitment to sharing his time, talents, and treasure on behalf of his alma mater. In Indianapolis he became involved in many social and service clubs in their community, including: Contemporary Club, Hoosiers for Huskers, Literary Club, Service Club, Players, Rotary, YMCA, and Indiana Council for World Affairs (ICWA). Anyone who engaged with Dick professionally or personally through the many organizations in which he was involved found him thoughtful, humble, and caring. He was a mentor to many and let others go first. Dick and Sue hosted an annual “Taste of Nebraska” event for the Indianapolis chapter of the Nebraska Alumni Association (Hoosiers for Huskers). These groups kept him busy when he wasn’t enjoying lake living with a pontoon boat, lake parties, and watching sunsets while enjoying a meal from their deck. He was a foodie and a recycled before those things were popular. He introduced his children to cow tongue and kimchi. There was no food he didn’t like. Always wanting to try another taste. He was frugal with money and resources, telling everyone to turn out the lights when they left the room, buying in bulk (and off-brands). Dick was a kind, generous, and sociable person. He had an abiding affection for the Tempero family lineage and ancestry and enjoyed international trips to meet and spend time with others with a Tempero connection. He was the driving force behind a family newsletter, Tempero Talk, supporting and sustaining the publication until 2013. He also was dedicated to the lakeside community where he served as President of the lake homeowners association, helping manage property owner expectations and lake requirements.

Dick also had a love of music and singing and for many years in Des Moines sang in the Chancel Choir at Plymouth Church. He enjoyed everything from classical to country music. He was a whiz with anything involving numbers and found ways to exercise that part of his brain; whether by recording gas mileage in a small dashboard notebook (or on a scrap of paper) at every gas stop, or by manually balancing checkbooks. He always found a creative way to get his numeric fix. He also loved to drive and his constant companion on any trip was a paper map of the area. The more obscure the destination, the better – in addition to the map, a highlighter and pen were all he needed. Dick had a knack for sharing stories and his opinions, and for providing a fresh perspective on everyone’s problems (solicited or not). He had enthusiasm for social holiday gatherings where he always took the opportunity to sport his signature red plaid pants. His dedication to family gatherings was highlighted by a decade of organizing an annual family gathering on Labor Day at Honey Creek Resort on Lake Rathbun in Iowa. One of Dick’s favorite holiday traditions was peeling a pomegranate to add to the festivities. Consider enjoying a pomegranate in his honor this holiday season!

Dick and Sue attended Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. Though it was not the closest church to their home. The thoughtful homilies and music were the draw. He chose to participate in the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, becoming a Catholic member of the Church in 2018.

He was preceded in death by his parents Howard and Lucile (Lalouette) Tempero and survived by his brothers Kenneth (Jeanne) Tempero and Stephen (Joan) Tempero. He leaves behind his loving wife Sue Ann (Carkoski) and their children, Katie (Mark) Sandquist, and Howard (Megan) Tempero, and his daughter Allison (Wesley) Nespor, grandchildren Matthew (Aaris) Nespor and Cat Nespor, Annika and Emmy Sandquist, Rezin, Corbet, Islalucia and Aristella Tempero, and great-grandchild Sylvia Nespor.

Saturday, October 29, 2022 a visitation at Immaculate Heart of Mary in Indianapolis will begin at 12:00pm, with a Catholic Mass of Christian Burial at 1:00pm, followed by a social gathering at our house through the afternoon. A larger family Celebration of Life gathering will be held in Iowa, at a later date, when all of Dick’s family and friends can celebrate him by memorializing his passion for social gatherings. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that those who are able make a donation to the University of Nebraska Foundation – Drs. Howard and Lucile Lalouette Tempero Fund, Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, or the charity of your choice.

The family is grateful for all the support and care from friends, neighbors, medical professionals and others who have helped during this difficult journey.