Richard J. Trinrud

Richard J. Trinrud was born in Decorah, Iowa on April 15, 1950 to Kenneth J. Trinrud and Shirely M. Borgen. He loved to tell people he was born on a cursed day - the day Lincoln died, the day the Titanic sank, and Tax Day - so his birth was really something to celebrate. He grew up in Grand Rapids with his younger sister, Tara. Despite many moves around the country and the world, he remained a loyal fan of Michigan teams. He attended Ottawa Hills High school, and then St. Olaf College. Thanks to a lifelong interest in travel and language, Rick skipped his graduation to head across the globe, joining the Peace Corps where he worked giving vaccinations in Jincheon, South Korea. After returning from South Korea, Rick joined the Air Force and worked as an Air Traffic Controller in Southern California. His time in the military allowed him to go to law school at Hamline University, where he completed a J.D. He worked first with the Rock Island County Prosecutor’s Office, and later as a medical malpractice attorney.

Rick met his wife, Marilyn Fields, at a wedding in 1975. She was a bridesmaid, he was a groomsman, and they connected over her talent for needlework - he asked her to embroider a shirt for him, not so much because he was fashion conscious, but mostly because he thought she was beautiful. They were married on August 2, 1980, and celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary in 2025. They lived for a year in St. Paul, Minnesota, and then moved to Rock Island, Illinois, where they raised their two kids - Megan, born in 1986, and Nate, born in 1989.

Rick loved being a dad, and he was great at it. Despite having a demanding job, (that he was also great at,) he made it to softball games, birthday parties, and theater performances. He never missed an opportunity to tell his kids he was proud of them. He and Marilyn also loved taking the family on incredible vacations, all of which Rick planned to a T. Rick had a number of hobbies - he loved to play golf, take the dog for long, early morning walks, and he loved to read. He was a film and TV buff, a sports fan, and a lifelong music lover, especially rock n’ roll. A progressive Democrat, Rick was involved in political causes and cared deeply about the future of our country and paid close attention to what was happening around the world. He had an extremely altruistic soul and would jump at the chance to help someone in need. As mentioned earlier, he was a lifelong fan of Michigan teams, so he was also an eternal optimist who loved to root for the underdog - (Go Lions!) An animal lover, Rick would never deny a home to a stray cat or dog, (not that he had a choice,) and usually ended up being every pet's favorite napping partner.

Rick passed away on August 9, 2025 after battling progressive health complications. He was 75 years old. He was funny, and kind, and silly, and so, so smart. He was complicated, and he could be stubborn and difficult, but he was always so very loved, and so very loving. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn, his kids, Megan and Nate, son-in-law, Jeffrey Armstrong, and his sister, Tara Trinrud Augustine, along with many nieces and nephews. Donations can be made in his name to National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service.

Memories may be shared online by visiting esterdahl.com.