Ric Ziesmer, age 71, of Olivia died on Monday, September 21, 2026 at Prairie Senior Cottages in Willmar surrounded by his family. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Thursday, September 24, at 1:00 p.m. at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Olivia with Rev. Joe Steinbeisser as celebrant. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service at the church. Arrangements by Dirks-Blem Funeral Service, Olivia, MN.
Richard Alan Ziesmer was born on August 24, 1955, in Olivia, Minnesota, to Harold and Irene (Kubesh) Ziesmer. He graduated from high school in 1974 and soon after began his lifelong career in agriculture. Ric started trucking after school and also spent time custom combining from Texas to Minnesota, traveling wherever the work took him and building a reputation as someone dependable, steady, and committed to doing the job right.
Agriculture was not just Ric’s work. It was a way of life that reflected who he was. He devoted his entire career to the field he loved and eventually retired from Mycogen Seeds in 2023 after being diagnosed with ALS. Even as his health changed, Ric faced each day with courage and grace. He remained a man of quiet strength, and those who knew him admired the way he carried himself with dignity and faith.
Ric was deeply devoted to his family. He was very caring and selfless, and he moved in with and cared for his parents until the time they passed away. That act of love was one of many examples of the kind of son, brother, uncle, and friend he was. He had a generous heart and a thoughtful spirit, and he never forgot the people who mattered to him. Ric was known for remembering everyone’s birthdays and anniversaries, a simple but meaningful way he showed others that they were loved and valued.
Ric was also an avid hunter and fisherman who found great joy in the outdoors. He especially enjoyed the yearly hunting trips to the cabin up north, where time with family and friends created lasting memories. These trips were among the many traditions he cherished, and they reflected his appreciation for the simple blessings of life, good company, and the beauty of God’s creation.
A faithful Christian, Ric lived his life with kindness, love, and a strong belief in God’s care. His faith was evident in the way he treated others, in the patience he showed, and in the steady presence he offered to those around him. He will be remembered as a kind, loving, and faith-filled man whose life touched many others in quiet but lasting ways.
Ric is survived by his two siblings: Harold “Red” Ziesmer and Mary Heck; his sisters-in-law, Deb Ziesmer and Eleanor Ziesmer; and many nieces and nephews. Ric was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Irene; siblings: Pat Swanson, Gordon Ziesmer, Curt Ziesmer and Ken Ziesmer; sisters-in-law, Arlene Ziesmer and Katy Ziesmer; brother-in-law, Don Swanson; and great-nephew, Isaac Hoff.
Blessed Be His Memory.