Richard Rinkenberger

Richard passed peacefully on Sept. 6th. Beloved husband, father, and grandfather. Richard was born to Burl and Olive (Krug) Rinkenberger on May 15, 1933 in Gridley Illinois. His family included older brother Donald and younger sister Marilyn. Richard passed away peacefully on September 6, 2012 after suffering a long illness. Richard is survived by his sister Marilyn Tate, wife Marilyn, daughters Janice (Campbell), Ginger Rinkenberger and Rebekah (Mitchell), grandsons Brandon, Joel, and Neal Campbell, Matthew Boisvert, and Benjamin Mitchell.
After High School, Richard joined the Army and served as a medic during the Korean War conflict. He obtained the rank of Corporal before being honorably discharged in 1956. Richard attended the University of Colorado and earned a Bachelor's degree in Geology. Shortly after graduation he was able to borrow money to prospect for minerals with a team of men in the Saskatchewan wilderness in Canada, which could be reached only by air drop and required provisions to be periodically air dropped to their camp site. They lived in tents and cooked by campfire while prospecting by day.
Richard soon joined The Martin Company (now Lockheed Martin) in Denver and was assigned to work in applied research associated with the Viking Mars Lander program, Sky Lab, solar energy research, battery research, and several other projects. This was a fifteen-year career during which he was also under contract to CU to provide continuing adult education in geology, conduct field work and teach scientific techniques to evaluate and classify mineral deposits.
Upon leaving Lockheed Martin, he worked for the Unites States Geological Survey (USGS) Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) as a mine safety inspector, usually working in coal mines deep underground to ensure the safety of the mine operators and workers.
On his own time, Richard developed leading edge technologies using satellite photogrammetry and remote sensing which he used to assist companies in mineral and oil exploration. Eventually he left MSHA to found Earth Intersections, Inc. and used his considerable knowledge and skills to consult with companies such as Shell and Occidental for oil, coal, precious metals and mineral exploration. His skills enabled him to advise companies where such mineral deposits would be found, saving years and substantial costs to conduct their own field work. Richard also wrote quite a few scientific articles that were published in technical journals which were primarily about remote sensing and mine safety issues.
He later held a position with the Department of Energy in Germantown, Maryland, with the primary responsibility of evaluating and awarding grants and loans to businesses large and small to conduct nuclear science and physics research. He was responsible for providing consultation and oversight to those he awarded grants, and he traveled extensively in this capacity.
Throughout his career Richard never stopped learning. He completed a draft of a book on his theories regarding dinosaur extinction, in which he developed a theory that CO2 gas resulted in the sudden extinction of dinosaurs. He was unable to finish it due to deteriorating health.
And to think that Richard's first paying job was cleaning chicken coops for 5 cents a day!
Richard loved the outdoors and enjoyed fishing and camping with his family. Hiking around wilderness areas was an opportunity to include his family to pique their interest in earth science and he usually had his tools close by to break open rocks to peer inside and gather clues to explain the geologic events that created the terrain and mineral deposits in the area. Richard especially loved his family, enjoyed being with them and would do anything for his family at anytime.
In addition to being a devoted scientist and loving family man, he was a devout Christian. The highest calling for him was his service to God. He was very active in his church, teaching Sunday School, calling upon visitors and those in nursing homes, and providing encouragement and prayers wherever needed. Richard was a prayer warrior and spent every day in devotions and prayer.
Richard wrote a book in 2007 The Practice of Christian Passions that was in final draft form but not yet published. He just ran out of time to get it finalized and published before disease disabled him. He states in a late draft of his book that he "had made a covenant with the Lord to read and study more carefully than ever before". The genesis of this book was the daily early morning Bible study and devotions at his favorite fast-food restaurant before going to work which continued long after his retirement after he returned to Denver. Richard stated his desire "is to have a passion for loving the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and to have a passion for following the Lord". He further stated that in his detailed study and practice of the Bible that the thought frequently crossed his mind that "This could truly be the very best day yet of my life!"
This is the way Richard led his life and is a testament for those who knew him. He was a blessing to all of us and will be greatly missed by all.