Roger William Richter Sr.

Roger William Richter was born on August 4, 1933 in Gillett, AR to Ruben Christian Herman Richter and Milda Estelle (Fuerstenberg) Richter; and passed away May 31st, 2019 at his home in Muskogee, OK at the age of 85. Roger attended St. Paul’s Lutheran parochial school through 8th grade, graduating from Gillett High School in 1951. He attended the University of Arkansas majoring in Architecture, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in June of 1956 and a Bachelor of Architecture Degree in January of 1957. He married Darlene Rae Dorsch on January 3, 1958 prior to reporting for active duty for training in the US Army at Fort Chaffee, AR and Ft. Jackson, SC. He was assigned to the US Army Reserves and was commissioned as a 1st Lt., retiring from the US Army Reserves in 1963 as a Captain. He was employed after graduation at Haralson & Mott Architects in Muskogee, OK and with offices also in Ft. Smith AR, completing his required 3 years practice under a licensed architectural firm and his Architect License examination in 1962. He was a practicing partner in successive named firms until 1978 when he purchased his interest in the firm and began his solo Architectural practice, retiring from active corporate practice in 1988. He was a member of both state and national American Institute of Architects (AIA) and held a National Council of Architectural Boards (NCARB) certificate. He held licenses in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Colorado. He was a member of the National Institute of Justice Committee and the American Corrections Association. He helped design and build the original Muskogee General Hospital (now St. Francis-Muskogee) and its subsequent eight additions, Hilldale Schools and Muskogee Schools multiple projects, Muskogee Civic Assembly Center, local banks, factories, and the Muskogee County/City Detention Facility. He also worked on University of Arkansas projects of high-rise dormitories, Health/Physical Education/Recreation (HPER), and the UA’s Basketball Arena. Awards of Excellence were issued for two of Muskogee Public Schools elementary buildings and for the Muskogee County/City Detention Facility. Roger also designed numerous custom private homes around the Muskogee area. Roger was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 60 years, and his son-in-law Jerome Janssen. He is survived by his son Roger Richter II and his wife Margaret of Muskogee; son Randall Richter of Muskogee; daughter Renee Janssen of Overland Park, KS; grandsons Roger Richter III and wife Tammy of Muskogee, OK and Alexander Richter of Norman, OK; grand-daughters Emily Janssen and Rachel Janssen of Overland Park, KS; great grand-daughter Adelaide Rutherford of Muskogee; sister Patricia Meinecke and husband Henry of Brasstown, NC, and Aunt Gertrude Rogers of Cabot, Arkansas. Roger, along with his friends Larry Rooney, Carl Pierceall, and Jim Caywood started the original Muskogee Chapter of Ducks Unlimited in 1963. An avid duck/goose and big game hunter, he enjoyed all hunting, fishing, travel, and building projects. Over the last 45 years he organized annual pheasant hunting trips to South Dakota. He helped develop Mallard Farms for himself, partners and family to enjoy several species of hunting, but especially duck hunting. He and his wife Darlene enjoyed numerous trips to Mexico, Canada, the Far East and Europe. Roger made several hunting and fishing trips to Alaska, to New Zealand, and to Africa. Later life pastimes were spent restoring and re-building several antique classic cars. A lifetime Lutheran from St. Paul’s in Gillett, AR, to St. Johns in Fayetteville, AR , to First Lutheran Church in Muskogee, OK, he held many positions within the churches as well as participating in work with Lutheran Church-Oklahoma and Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in St. Louis, MO where he was a member of the Architectural Committee. A family conducted service will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, June 8th, 2019 at First Lutheran Church Muskogee with the Reverends Tim Dorsch and Wayne Schuett officiating.

Roger William Richter Sr.

August 4, 1933 - May 31, 2019