Richard Wesley Burggraf was born Oct 2, 1953 to Bernie and Nancy Burggraf of Roseau, MN.  He finished his race and entered his eternal victory in heaven peacefully in his home surrounded by family on November 19th, 2014.

Rick grew up in a loving neighborhood filled with cousins and friends, enjoying the freedom of a small town life in Roseau.  He loved all sports, but hockey and skating were his favorite. His memories shared of his childhood were warm and happy.  He met the love of his life, Joan Lommen in high school.  His father pointed her out to him from the window of Burggraf's Clothing Store, suggesting she might be someone to ask out on a date.  They became high school sweethearts and married on May 18, 1974.  He never wavered in his extreme love and devotion to Joan throughout life.

After attending the University of North Dakota, he returned to Roseau where he and Joan raised four daughters, whom he also loved fiercely.  It was a 'Norman Rockwell life' in the same neighborhood he grew up in.  He worked with his dad in the family business until moving to Fargo in 1998. There he worked for American Family until 2007, when he took a job at the Mayo Clinic, where he enjoyed working until his recent cancer diagnosis.

Hockey was a big part of the Burggraf family life. He played from a very young age through his college years.  He helped his mother, Nancy during her Skating Skills years as she traveled around Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.   He skated with his brother, Frank helping to teach young and not so young hockey players how to skate and improve their game, when the program began in Fargo.   Rick loved the years he coached at Shanley High School and spoke often about the young men he was given the opportunity to know.

Nothing ever came before his family.  He always said his daughters chose his sons, as he prayed diligently from the time they were little girls that God would bring the perfect men into their lives.   He felt those prayers were answered beyond what he could imagine.   He loved and respected his chosen sons and felt great pride in them.  He was first to volunteer to rock and hold each new grandbaby during the twilight hours and was a very beloved "Poppa" to his grand-children as they played – often being accused of being the largest child in the room.  We will miss his cinnamon rolls which were perfection and lovingly renamed, Poppa Rolls.   He was a baker extraordinaire.

Of all the things Rick was passionate about; it was his love of Jesus and desire to follow Him which was his highest passion.  He grew rapidly in his faith and relationship with Jesus, and began a lifelong commitment to reading the Bible, digging deeply and studying diligently.  This commitment to God's word extended to being a Gideon and he was often asked to fill in for pastors as they took their summer vacations.

Rick was a passionate person with a tendency to dedicate himself fully to the things he loved; he had a passion for life, for Jesus, for family and a passion to win in any type of competition.   Behind his love for Jesus was his love for his family.  He never missed an opportunity to be with his children and grandchildren, always wanting to connect with them and excited about the things they were excited about.  His grandchildren were very blessed to call him "Poppa" and never doubted his great love and care for them.  His battle with cancer is over and thanks to Jesus he is enjoying his new body.  His remarkable life was one well lived. He is preceded in death by his mother, and grand-parents.

He is survived by his wife Joan and children Heather (Brett) Gadient of Goodhue, Katie (Aaron) Stromlund of Austin, Jennifer (Eric) Svoboda of Duluth and Annie (Nick) Tidd of Fargo, ND.  Grandchildren Molly, Hannah, Isaac, Zeb, Elisabeth, Jayven, Lauren, David, Isabelle, Joel and Charlie, his father, Bernie Burggraf of Fargo, ND, siblings Becky (Mark) Lommen , Sally(Fraser) Norton , Charlie(Bethany) Burggraf , Frank(Charlene) Burggraf  and many beloved nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00pm, Saturday November 22, 2014 in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home with Pastor Eric Svoboda officiating.  Visitation will be one half hour prior to the funeral service.

On-line condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com.