Obituary of Richard Wenberg

Richard Vincent "Dick" Wenberg passed away May 12th. We will miss his sense of humor and hearty laugh. Dick was born May 16, 1932 to Ruben and Hazel Wenberg in Morris, MN. He was preceded in death by his second wife Colette Wenberg (December 22, 2005), his parents (both October 1987), plus numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. He is survived by his sister Bonita Gremillion and her husband Chol of Boulder Colorado, his daughter Dr. Sue Wenberg of Tucson, Arizona, son David R Wenberg of New York City, his first wife Ruth Wenberg of Tucson, Arizona, and numerous nieces and nephews. Mr. Wenberg attended Longfellow Grade School and Morris Junior and Senior High School, graduating in 1950. Mr. Wenberg was a 3 sport letterman in high school (football, basketball, and baseball), co-captain of the football team, and All–Conference left guard (North Central Conference). He accepted a football athletic scholarship to the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks but after the 1st semester was called into the Army during the Korean War. He played football for the 47 Viking Division while in the service. Dick returned to the University of North Dakota and was a four-year letter winner. Mr. Wenberg was graduated with a B.S. degree in Mining Engineering in 1956 and started his post-college career at Climax Molybdenum Company in Colorado. In 1959 he accepted employment with Ingersoll–Rand company of NYC as a sales engineer trainee. In 1962 he was transferred to St. Louis, Missouri as the branch mining and construction sales engineer. He joined EIMCO Mining Machinery in 1966 as district sales engineer for the Midwest, was transferred to Salt Lake City as US Sales Manager in June of 1969, and was promoted to Executive Vice Pres. of Sales and Marketing in 1972. He joined the Getman Corp., South Haven, Michigan as Executive Vice Pres. of Sales and Marketing in 1986. Dick retired to Tucson in 1995. Upon retirement he founded Wenberg Associates, which specialized in dust control for open pit and underground mines. Wenberg Associates used Polo Citrus foam generating systems which Dick personally introduced in the United States and South America, and which are still widely used in the mining and coal fired power plant industries. Dick had a great "feel" for the needs of the underground mining industry, and was responsible for many mining equipment innovations used throughout the world. He traveled extensively worldwide during his career as a sales and marketing executive, and was known as a knowledgeable engineer and executive. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to: www.americanbrittanyrescue.org, or the charity of your choice. (Don't worry, we have found the dog a loving home.)