Obituary for Richard Craig Lund
It is with much heartache and deep sadness to share that Richard “Ric” Craig Lund, formerly of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away unexpectantly at home in Springfield Missouri on November 23, 2023, Thanksgiving Day with his wife Treva by his side. A Celebration of Life visitation for Ric will be on Saturday, March 30, 2024 from 10-11 am at Herman H. Lohmeyer Funeral Home, 500 E. Walnut St Springfield followed by a Memorial Service starting at 11 am.
Ric was born on April 9, 1956 to Kenneth and Arleen (Sova) Lund in Cedar Rapids, Iowa where he lived for the first 28 years of his life before moving to Springfield. His youth was filled with friends, family and a pinch of mischief and inquisitiveness. Even before Ric started his school years, you could see his lifelong strengths, interests and passions already developing – the love of family, nature & the outdoors, music, artistic creativity and humor.
When Ric was a second grader at Erskine Elementary, he joined Cub Scouts and from that day on, his whole family was a “Scouting” family for years. His mother was his Den Mother, his sister was her assistant, and his dad, the Cubmaster. When Ric advanced to Boy Scouts, his dad was the assistant Scoutmaster of his troop. It was during his scouting years that he developed his love for camping, hiking, fishing and boating. As a boy scout at age 14, Ric started working on staff at Camp Wakonda Scout Camp for the next 3 summers. It was while he was on staff, he picked up a cheap acoustic guitar for something to do in the evenings & taught himself to play. The proudest moment in Scouting came when Ric earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 1972 at age 16 with his dad presenting it to him.
It was also in Erskine Elementary school that his love for music started. With both his mom and maternal grandmother being pianists, Ric started out learning to read music and play the piano with his mom as his teacher. Even though he played well, it wasn’t his choice of instrument. He loved all forms of music but Blues and Jazz were his favorite and all trumpet players, leading him to start playing the trumpet in 3rd grade. Ric became quite an accomplished trumpet player, awarded the highest honors in many competitions throughout his school years. It was also when Ric started playing trumpet that he changed the spelling of his first name from Rick to just Ric. During his high school years at Washington Senior High, he was in marching band, often being the featured soloist before becoming the solo Drum Master his senior year. He also was a member of the elite jazz band where he could showcase his musical skill when he was able to spontaneously improvise on many of the arrangements. Along with being in his sister’s wedding party, Ric was able to show his mastery of improv at a wedding dance reception with the Jazz Band providing the music for the evening. For Spring break in 1973, the Warrior Band & Jazz Band toured 5 countries in Europe performing concerts and sightseeing. Ric shared this experience with his parents as chaperons.
During his school years, Ric’s creativity in art surfaced with his amazing humorous cartooning drawing & clay sculpting abilities. Many of his projects were put on display at the school and at the public library.
Following graduation from George Washington Senior High school in 1974, Ric attended Iowa State University as a music major, later deciding a career in music wasn’t for him.
Ric’s work career path included various positions that showcased his strengths, interests, creativity and expertise, with his first job working at The Penny Saver, a special weekly newspaper insert in the Cedar Rapids Gazette. Ric was hired as the Advertising Sales Manager and Creative Editor and was responsible for securing advertising contracts and designing the graphic layout of the paper for publication. After working there for 1 ½ years, Ric went to work for World Radio in Cedar Rapids where he was an audio salesman professional as well as the Marketing Manager. He later transferred to the Wichita Kansas store, living there briefly. After marrying Dureen Robertson on June 22, 1986, they moved to Springfield Missouri where Ric began working for Car-Fi as an accomplished Graphic Designer for many years. They divorced in 1996. Ric decided to change his creative work focus to include photography and began working as a 360 Photographer at O’Reilly Auto Parts Corporate Office in Springfield until his retirement in 2021.
After thinking that he would never find “his person” and a forever love, in 2008, he met the love of his life, Treva Hufft. They were married on November 11, 2011, picking that date to make sure he would never for their anniversary on 11/11/11.
Ric’s love for music was reignited when he met Treva, an exceptional violinist. He got back to playing guitar and developed quite an extensive collection of various guitars. He loved playing guitar, keyboard & singing in his classic rock band “Treva and the Troublemakers” with his wife Treva.
From the time he was young, growing into adulthood, Ric always wanted to be a dad. He wanted a family to make lasting memories with, like his family did with him, especially scouting memories he shared with in his dad. Unfortunately, he thought this wasn’t to be until he discovered at age 59, he had an adult daughter, Nikkole, he never knew about. Ric welcomed and embraced her and her family with open arms into the family, as did Treva.
Ric was truly one of a kind. He immediately lit up any room he entered and kept everyone in stitches with his sense of humor. Wherever he was, he was the life of the party and you count on him to make each person feel comfortable and important. He was tenacious and great at thinking outside the box and doing a workaround before it became a thing. Family and friends were always very important to Ric and he was always there, giving his all at any time. He had a generous heart, an engaging smile and a mischievous twinkling in his eye, all which will be greatly missed.
Ric was preceded in death by his parents and both sets of grandparents.
He leaves behind to remember and cherish his memory his wife of 12 years, Treva; his daughter, Nikkole Swearingen (Colin) of Florida; his sister, Andrea “Andi” Lund Quinn (Don) of Cedar Rapids Iowa; nephews, Todd and Brandon Quinn, both of Colorado; and grandchildren, Kateliyn and Kaylee Curtis-Swore of Cedar Rapids and Lemmuel Swearingen, Florida.
If desired, any memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association in Ric’s name.
Permanent online condolences, stories and photos may be shared at www.hhlohmeyer.com.
Ric was born on April 9, 1956 to Kenneth and Arleen (Sova) Lund in Cedar Rapids, Iowa where he lived for the first 28 years of his life before moving to Springfield. His youth was filled with friends, family and a pinch of mischief and inquisitiveness. Even before Ric started his school years, you could see his lifelong strengths, interests and passions already developing – the love of family, nature & the outdoors, music, artistic creativity and humor.
When Ric was a second grader at Erskine Elementary, he joined Cub Scouts and from that day on, his whole family was a “Scouting” family for years. His mother was his Den Mother, his sister was her assistant, and his dad, the Cubmaster. When Ric advanced to Boy Scouts, his dad was the assistant Scoutmaster of his troop. It was during his scouting years that he developed his love for camping, hiking, fishing and boating. As a boy scout at age 14, Ric started working on staff at Camp Wakonda Scout Camp for the next 3 summers. It was while he was on staff, he picked up a cheap acoustic guitar for something to do in the evenings & taught himself to play. The proudest moment in Scouting came when Ric earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 1972 at age 16 with his dad presenting it to him.
It was also in Erskine Elementary school that his love for music started. With both his mom and maternal grandmother being pianists, Ric started out learning to read music and play the piano with his mom as his teacher. Even though he played well, it wasn’t his choice of instrument. He loved all forms of music but Blues and Jazz were his favorite and all trumpet players, leading him to start playing the trumpet in 3rd grade. Ric became quite an accomplished trumpet player, awarded the highest honors in many competitions throughout his school years. It was also when Ric started playing trumpet that he changed the spelling of his first name from Rick to just Ric. During his high school years at Washington Senior High, he was in marching band, often being the featured soloist before becoming the solo Drum Master his senior year. He also was a member of the elite jazz band where he could showcase his musical skill when he was able to spontaneously improvise on many of the arrangements. Along with being in his sister’s wedding party, Ric was able to show his mastery of improv at a wedding dance reception with the Jazz Band providing the music for the evening. For Spring break in 1973, the Warrior Band & Jazz Band toured 5 countries in Europe performing concerts and sightseeing. Ric shared this experience with his parents as chaperons.
During his school years, Ric’s creativity in art surfaced with his amazing humorous cartooning drawing & clay sculpting abilities. Many of his projects were put on display at the school and at the public library.
Following graduation from George Washington Senior High school in 1974, Ric attended Iowa State University as a music major, later deciding a career in music wasn’t for him.
Ric’s work career path included various positions that showcased his strengths, interests, creativity and expertise, with his first job working at The Penny Saver, a special weekly newspaper insert in the Cedar Rapids Gazette. Ric was hired as the Advertising Sales Manager and Creative Editor and was responsible for securing advertising contracts and designing the graphic layout of the paper for publication. After working there for 1 ½ years, Ric went to work for World Radio in Cedar Rapids where he was an audio salesman professional as well as the Marketing Manager. He later transferred to the Wichita Kansas store, living there briefly. After marrying Dureen Robertson on June 22, 1986, they moved to Springfield Missouri where Ric began working for Car-Fi as an accomplished Graphic Designer for many years. They divorced in 1996. Ric decided to change his creative work focus to include photography and began working as a 360 Photographer at O’Reilly Auto Parts Corporate Office in Springfield until his retirement in 2021.
After thinking that he would never find “his person” and a forever love, in 2008, he met the love of his life, Treva Hufft. They were married on November 11, 2011, picking that date to make sure he would never for their anniversary on 11/11/11.
Ric’s love for music was reignited when he met Treva, an exceptional violinist. He got back to playing guitar and developed quite an extensive collection of various guitars. He loved playing guitar, keyboard & singing in his classic rock band “Treva and the Troublemakers” with his wife Treva.
From the time he was young, growing into adulthood, Ric always wanted to be a dad. He wanted a family to make lasting memories with, like his family did with him, especially scouting memories he shared with in his dad. Unfortunately, he thought this wasn’t to be until he discovered at age 59, he had an adult daughter, Nikkole, he never knew about. Ric welcomed and embraced her and her family with open arms into the family, as did Treva.
Ric was truly one of a kind. He immediately lit up any room he entered and kept everyone in stitches with his sense of humor. Wherever he was, he was the life of the party and you count on him to make each person feel comfortable and important. He was tenacious and great at thinking outside the box and doing a workaround before it became a thing. Family and friends were always very important to Ric and he was always there, giving his all at any time. He had a generous heart, an engaging smile and a mischievous twinkling in his eye, all which will be greatly missed.
Ric was preceded in death by his parents and both sets of grandparents.
He leaves behind to remember and cherish his memory his wife of 12 years, Treva; his daughter, Nikkole Swearingen (Colin) of Florida; his sister, Andrea “Andi” Lund Quinn (Don) of Cedar Rapids Iowa; nephews, Todd and Brandon Quinn, both of Colorado; and grandchildren, Kateliyn and Kaylee Curtis-Swore of Cedar Rapids and Lemmuel Swearingen, Florida.
If desired, any memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association in Ric’s name.
Permanent online condolences, stories and photos may be shared at www.hhlohmeyer.com.