Richard J. Ketchel

Richard Joseph Ketchel "Rick" passed away unexpectedly on December 14, 2025. Born to Elmer and Marie “Rose” (Marier) Ketchel on October 2, 1950 in St. Paul, Minnesota, Rick was the 6th of 7 siblings.

Rick attended St. Bernard’s School before transferring and graduating from Washington High School in St. Paul. He then attended Dakota County Technical College which led to a very fulfilling career with Johnson Screens in New Brighton as a tooling operator until his retirement in 2020.

Rick was united in marriage to Carolyn Schmidt on July 25, 1976, and they resided in Circle Pines, MN. Their pride and joy was son Jeffrey who became their best friend and caretaker during the latter years of their lives. Rick and his son enjoyed fishing at their Lake Lizzie cabin, deer hunting, and competitive skeet and black powder shooting. Rick and his siblings also carried on annual traditions such as a hayride in the fall and Minnesota’s Adopt-a-Highway clean-up in the summer.

Rick was preceded in death by wife Carolyn; his parents; his father/mother-in-law, Anton & Dotty Schmidt; his brothers, Roy and Gregory and Roy’s wife Wilma; his sisters, Jeannette (Krueger) and Carol (Milton) and Carol’s husband Jim; nephews, James Milton II and Douglas Schmidt; and niece Lauren Schulte. 

Rick is survived by his son Jeff; his brothers, James (Karen) and Gary (Nancy); and a large extended family of nephews, nieces, cousins and brothers/sisters-in-law.

A celebration of Rick’s life will be planned in the near future when the weather gets warmer.