Richard von Maur, Jr.

Richard Baldwin von Maur, Jr., 86, of Davenport, died October 13, 2018 at Genesis Medical Center. He was surrounded by family at the time of his passing.

A Memorial service will be held at 4:30 p.m., Sunday, October 21, 2018 at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 121 W. 12th Street, Davenport.   Private burial services will be at Oakdale Memorial Gardens. There will be a celebration of life at a later date in Naples, Florida.

Dick was born May 26, 1932 in Davenport, a son of Richard and Elsie (Wood) von Maur. He attended Davenport Schools and was a graduate of Vermont Academy in Saxons River, Vermont, and Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa where he majored in Economics and played basketball, football, and golf, which became a lifelong passion. Following his graduation, he served two years in the United States Navy.

He was united in marriage to Susan Arp in 1958 in Moline, Illinois.  They celebrated their 60th Anniversary this past June.

Richard served as Co-Chairman of Von Maur, Inc., formerly known as Petersen Harned Von Maur. Joining the company in 1957, he, along with his brother Charles, took a single department store in downtown Davenport, Iowa and grew it into one of America’s leading department store chains.  He often said the company’s most valuable asset are its associates, and thought of them as family.

He was a trustee of the former St. Katharine's / St. Mark's Independent College Preparatory School, now Rivermont Collegiate, past director of the Davenport Chamber of Commerce, Mid-West Bank of Moline, First National Bank of Rock Island, the Red Cross, Oakdale Cemetery, Davenport Country Club, and the Davenport School Board, serving several terms as President. Richard also served on the vestry of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral.

He enjoyed playing golf with family and friends at Crow Valley Golf Club and the Hole-in-the-Wall Golf Club in Naples, Florida, where he served as President.

He will be remembered for his strong work ethic and dedication to his family, but most of all, his sense of humor and a great magic trick.

Those left to honor his memory include his wife, Susan; daughters Robin (Lee) Staak and Susan (Holly) Grimm; sons Richard III (Doreen) and James (Melissa); brother Charles (Nancy) and a sister, Alice McDonald. He was “Ga” to his eleven grandchildren; Allison (Cody) Kriegel, John (Betsy Barry) Staak, Bennett, Melanie (Dave Ronning) and Catherine Grimm, Justice, Elizabeth and Richard IV von Maur, J.D., Ana and Otto von Maur, Great Grandchild Vivienne Kriegel, and many nieces, nephews, and family friends who had the privilege of calling him “Uncle Dick”.

The family would like to give a special thanks to the many caregivers in Davenport and Naples for their years of dedicated service, loyalty and compassion.  The love and support Dick received was truly a blessing.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that expressions of sympathy be made to the Richard and Susan von Maur scholarship fund at Trinity Cathedral, Quad City Symphony, Rivermont Collegiate, or a charity of your choice.