Richard “Rich” Haferkamp

Richard Earl Haferkamp, 66, of Creve Coeur, passed away on May 29, 2013, after a brief illness. He was born to Glenn and Sarah (nee: Shickman) Haferkamp on November 20, 1946, in St. Louis, Missouri. Richard earned a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering at Washington University. He later earned a Master's Degree in Business Administration as well as his Juris Doctorate from Washington University. After graduation from law school, he joined Rogers, Eilers & Howell, a patent boutique law firm. As a first year associate with Rogers, Eilers & Howell, he passed the Missouri Bar and the Patent Bar. After a short time, Richard became a partner and co-managed the firm, which later became Howell & Haferkamp, which subsequently merged with Thompson Coburn to expand their Intellectual Property Department. Richard served as co-chairman of the Department. He also served on the management and executive committees. In his semi-retirement, Richard had begun a new chapter in his professional career as general counsel for RBO Print Logistix in St. Louis. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Richard may have counted as his greatest successes, the many treasured friendships he made during his career. Those friends supported him immeasurably throughout his life. Richard entered the United States Army as an electrical engineer in 1970, and served stateside at Fort Ord in Monterey, California, receiving the Commendation Medal upon his discharge, after which he returned to St. Louis. Richard was married to Deborah Robinson on March 15, 1995. They enjoyed many travels and adventures together. Italy held a distinct appeal to Richard, and he spent a great deal of time there travelling and enjoying the culture, food, and people of the country. He and Debbie also had residences in Naples, Florida, and the Lake of the Ozarks, where Richard delighted in lake living and the friendships he and Debbie enjoyed. Surviving are Richard's wife, Deborah; son, Richard Robert (Kristin) of Redlands, California; son, Andrew Nathan (Jennifer) of Kansas City, Missouri; granddaughters, Ella and Sophia Haferkamp, Megan and Samantha Borman, and Ana Esail; brother, Mathew (Laura) Haferkamp of Moscow Mills, Missouri; sister, Susan Crable of O'Fallon, Missouri; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Besides his parents, Richard was preceded in death by a sister, Cindy, and a brother, Glenn. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Habitat for Humanity in Naples, Florida.