Robert "Bob" A. Rick

Passed away peacefully Thursday, January 16, 2014, at his home in Woodbury surrounded by family. Bob was born March 9, 1933, to Gerhardt and Louelle (Sprain) Rick in St. Paul. He grew up in St. Paul, graduating from St. Paul Central in 1950 and the University of Minnesota in 1954. Bob married Joy Johnson in 1955 and served in the United States Army from 1955-1957. He earned a Master’s Degree from George Williams College in Chicago in 1959. Bob began his career with the YMCA as a summer camp staff member at Camp St. Croix in 1949. He was just 15. He went on to have a 41-year career with the YMCA camping programs, spending 31 years as a professional camp director. He served as director of Camp Ohiyesa in Michigan, Camp Classen in Oklahoma, and Camp Speers-Eljabar in New Jersey. He served as director of Camp Widjiwagan in Northern Minnesota from 1974 to 1989. He then served as VP of Financial Development of the St. Paul YMCA from 1989 until his retirement in 1993. Bob influenced thousands of campers and staff members over the course of his career, building lasting relationships. Bob loved nothing more than spending time outdoors - backpacking, hiking, camping, biking & gardening. He telemark skied into his 80th year, when he was diagnosed with brain cancer. He instilled in his family the same passion for outdoor recreation, spending countless hours with his children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews in the great outdoors. After his retirement from the YMCA, Bob and Joy spent part of each year traveling the country in their motorhome, visiting National Parks and friends throughout the United States. In 2002, Joy passed away after a brief illness. In 2004, Bob married Joanne Oyen. He wrote that it “seemed truly a miracle to be so twice-blessed in one lifetime.” Bob is preceded in death by his parents, his first wife of 47 years, Joy, and his sister, Barbara Grace. He is survived by his wife, Joanne Oyen, son Randy (Lynn) of Rapid City, SD; daughter Jennie (Tom) Voss of Woodbury; son Jeff (Roxanne) of Burnsville; sister Gwen (Doug) Hedlund of Edina; brother Gary (Gale) of Mahtomedi; eight grandchildren and one great-grandson; nieces and nephews; and his wife Joanne’s three children and her three grandchildren. We thank you for the countless cards, notes and emails during Bob’s illness. They meant so much to him and to us. Thank you also for your love and continued prayers.