Richard DeRemee

Dr. Richard Arthur "Dick" DeRemee, age 92, passed away on June 19, 2026. Dick is survived by Evelyn Lucille "Lucy," his wife of 70 years; his three children, Lisa DeRemee (Patrick McCormack), Brita Taracks (Doug), and Bo DeRemee (Linda O'Neill); seven grandchildren; and a sister, Carol DeRemee. He was preceded in death by parents, Arthur and Vera DeRemee.

Born on July 4, 1933 in Red Wing, Minnesota, to second-generation Swedish immigrants, Dick grew up with aunts and uncles who took him fishing on the Mississippi and up North. He was a three-sport athlete at Central High School.

Dick attended Gustavus Adolphus College, where his most important moment was meeting Lucy Fogelstrom, his future bride. At Gustavus he served as president of the sophomore class, president of the Gustavus Choir, and president of the Kappa Sigma Xi fraternity. Dick remained an ardent "Gustie," serving as president of the Alumni Board and chair of the college Governing Board.

Dick received his MD from the University of Minnesota Medical School, following which he enlisted in the U.S. Army Medical Corps where he was recognized for his outstanding service to patients. Following his military service, Dick completed a residency in internal medicine and advanced training in pulmonology at Mayo Graduate School of Medicine. He then joined the Division of Thoracic Diseases at Mayo Clinic, where he practiced until retiring in 1996.

Dick was professor of medicine and internationally renowned for his contributions to the understanding and treatment of several pulmonary diseases, most notably sarcoidosis, pulmonary fibrosis, and Wegener's granulomatosis. Dick authored a substantial body of medical literature, including a textbook, Clinical Profiles of Interstitial Pulmonary Disease. He was honored in 2013 with the Mayo Clinic Distinguished Alumni Award.

In retirement, Dick continued to write creatively, publishing fourteen books on a variety of subjects including poetry, theology, philosophy and memoirs such as From Boys to Men: The Summer of 1954. He recounted his life-long love of travel in his book Once Upon a Jet Plane.

Dick was especially proud of his maternal and paternal Swedish heritage. He and Lucy established connections with their respective families' relatives in Sweden, who they visited and hosted many times. Dick took particular pride in being huvudman of the Nat och Dag noble family, which origins stretch back to the late 13th century.

His greatest joy was spending time with his family, whether on canoe trips to the Boundary Waters, at his home in Rochester or the family's cabin on Lake Okoboji, IA. He enjoyed classical music, golf, steak dinners with Lucy, and entertaining family, friends, and colleagues.

The visitation (10:00 a.m.) and service (11:00 a.m.) will be held on Saturday, June 27 at Mount Olive Lutheran Church, 2830 18th Ave. NW, Rochester, Minnesota, where he had been a member for 63 years. To view the livestream of Richard's service, please click here or use the link below.  A reception at the church immediately following the service. Private interment at Resurrection Lutheran Church Cemetery in St. Peter, Minnesota, after a "pass through" Christ Chapel, Gustavus Adolphus College. Memorials may be directed to the DeRemee Family Scholarship Fund at Gustavus or the Mount Olive Lutheran Church Endowment Fund.

Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home is honored to be serving the DeRemee family. To share a special memory or condolence, please visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com.