On Sunday, December 13, 2020, Richard Ringelstein, loving husband, father, uncle, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away at the age of 78.

Born and raised on the North Side of Chicago, Richard moved to Naperville IL with his family in 1972 and was involved in many aspects of the community for the next  40 years, including acting as a member of the Naperville Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club.  He moved to Wilmington, North Carolina after his retirement in 2012.  He loved spending time with family and enjoying both Carolina and Wrightsville Beaches.  He also enjoyed spending time with his other retired friends at the New Hanover Senior Resource Center.  He was a lifelong Chicago Bears and Chicago Cubs fan and continued to follow his teams from afar.

Richard was a catering executive for over 50 years and was well known throughout the Chicago area.  He learned the ropes by starting at the bottom from kitchen staff and moving onto kitchen manager at Link's Family Catering business on Chicago's Northwest Side.  His career further progressed at Colonial Caterers in Naperville in the early 1970's.  In 1987 he became President and Chief Operating Officer of Culinary Enterprises, Inc. in Naperville, where he oversaw the company's operations which included Colonial Caterers, Continental Caterers, Gaper's Caterers and Mixing Bowl Caterers in Chicago.  At the height of the business, it had become the Midwest's largest off-premise, volume caterer.

Richard was an adept problem solver and keen creator of elegant celebrations of culinary hospitality.  He became a master at delivering large-scale weddings and corporate dinners.   Significant events included catering for the corporate hospitality tents at sporting events such as the Western Open at Butler National, the 1991 US Open at Medinah and the Kentucky Derby.  Other memorable events included catering for 1000's of people at a sit-down dinner at the University of Notre Dame's Junior Parent Weekend, a dinner for Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin during his visit to Chicago in 1978 and another for Pope John Paul II during his visit to Chicago in 1979.

Richard also loved to cook at home – and possessed incredible skills on the BBQ, grilling year-round even in the frozen months of Chicago's winters.  He also extended the legacy of his German heritage with many hearty meat, sauerkraut and potato recipes.

He is survived by his brother Anthony (Carol) Ringelstein of Grayslake, IL, his children, Daniel (Sabine – div. / Thuy) of London, UK and Todd (Sandra) of Mooresville NC, nephew Scott Link (A. Jean) of Jasper GA, niece Laura Link Clark (William) of Wilmington NC.  Grandchildren Théa and Talia Ringelstein, Clarke Ringelstein, Lauren Link Totten (Kyle) and Jared Link (Wafa), Benjamin and Michelle Clark, Step-Grandchildren Micah Lipps and Sgt. Michael J. Felgenhauer and Great-Grandchildren Mia Rafield and Jackson Ocasio.  RIchard is preceded in his death by his wife Donna (in September 2020), his brothers John, Philip (Marilyn) and Robert (Sandy) Ringelstein, sisters Maryanne and Janet Ringelstein, and by his parents Jacob and Elizabeth Ringelstein.

Visitation and Funeral Services will be held  in late January / early February 2021 in Naperville, IL.  A Celebration of Life event will be planned for Richard to take place in the Spring of 2021, more information to follow.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Richard's name honor to the following charity: Little Friends, Naperville IL https://www.littlefriendsinc.org/ .

Shared memories and condolences may be sent to the family by selecting Tribute Wall above.

Quinn McGowen Funeral Home – Wilmington

910-794-7171