Richard Priem

Richard "Dick" Priem, age 74, of Faribault, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at the St. Lucas Care Center in Faribault following an extended illness.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 8, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home & Crematory of Faribault. Interment will be held at the Calvary Cemetery in Faribault with military honors provided by the Rice County Central Veterans Association.

Visitation will be held at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home & Crematory of Faribault on Friday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and on Saturday for one hour prior to services at the funeral home.

Richard Maurice, the son of Samuel and Josephine (Aube) Priem, was born on February 23, 1938 in Faribault. He attended Faribault High School and at the age of seventeen, enlisted in the United States Army in 1955 and retired as Master Drill Sergeant in 1976. Richard received a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts from his action in Vietnam. While active, Dick met Anna "Ann" Wallisch in Germany and the two were later married on August 22, 1958. Ann preceded him in death on October 16, 2007. After retiring and moving back to Faribault, Dick attended Mankato Vo-Tech for refrigeration training and also the Faribault Vo-Tech for Welding classes. He enjoyed camping, cooking, hunting, fishing, gardening, horseshoes and playing cards. Dick was a life member at the VFW Post 1562 and the American Legion Post 43, both in Faribault.

Richard is survived by his children, Raymond "Ray" Priem (and son, Samuel) of Detroit Lakes, Rhonda (and Raymond "Rocky") Thompson, Max (special friend, Mike) Priem, Ronald "Ron" Priem, and Mary Ann (and Ed) Pauna, all of Faribault; 7 grandchildren; two great grandchildren; his siblings, Raymond (Barb) Priem of Aitkin and Mary (Gary) Bauer of Faribault and by many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and by his wife, Ann in 2007.