Richard William Lingwall

LINGWALL SWANSON SCHLAKE GOMEZ

Posted By: Nathan Lingwall (email)
Date: 1/14/2010 at 14:03:42

Richard William Lingwall
August 1 1938 to December 28, 2009

Richard William Lingwall passed away December 28, 2009 after a one month
battle with gall bladder cancer. He was born on August 1, 1938 in Ft.
Dodge, Iowa the son of William and Leona (Swanson) Lingwall. He grew up in
Harcourt, Iowa where he first found his love for music. He began playing
the piano for Sunday School when he was eleven and started playing the organ
for church when he was in Jr. High. This continued for over fifty years.
During high school he was editor of the Annual, played basketball, and
played trombone in the band. He graduated third in his class in 1956 from
Harcourt High School. He then attended Drake University where he obtained
his Bachelors and Masters degree in music education.
On July 9, 1966 he was united in marriage with Marilyn Shirley Schlake at
St. Peter Lutheran Church in Garnavillo, Iowa by his uncle Rev. Dr. Reynold
Lingwall.
He began his forty year teaching career in Dallas Center, Iowa as the high
school band director in 1960. He then moved on to be the band director in
Nevada, Iowa in 1966. Richard took his band to the Red River Expedition in
Winnipeg, Canada, the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C., the Peach
Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia, and New York City. While in Nevada two sons were
born, Nathan Allan and Stephen James. In 1980 the family moved to Coon
Rapids Iowa where Richard became the band director for the elementary,
junior high and high school bands. After five years the family moved to
Casa Grande, Arizona where Richard was the high school band director until
2000. Richard was awarded the Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers award for
teachers who made a difference in the lives of their students.
Music was his vocation, avocation, and totally dominated his life. It is
said that teachers often have a favorite student but he always said that all
of his students were his favorites and he thoroughly enjoyed working with
them. After retirement, Richard and Marilyn moved to Mesa, Arizona. Richard
was very active in church music all of his life. . He loved to travel and
has visited five continents. In his retirement he volunteered much of his
time at King of Glory Lutheran Church, Jordan Elementary School, Herberger
Theater, Gammage Auditorium and Symphony Hall.
In his memoirs Richard said “I have had a very blessed, charmed, and
productive life so far, much of which is due to my one and only true love of
forty-three years, Marilyn. We share the same interests and vocation, and
compliment each other very well. Retirement is great, and I thoroughly
enjoy life.”
Richard is survived by his loving wife Marilyn; sons, Nathan (Kendra)
Lingwall, Stephen (Lynn) Lingwall; three grandsons, Chal Gomez, Wyatt
Lingwall and Braeden Lingwall. He was proceeded in death by his parents.