Obituary of Richard Eugene Fournier

Richard Eugene Fournier, 73, of Duluth died February 14, 2025. Born in Minneapolis on March 8, 1951 to Ernest and Evelyn (Johnson), he graduated from Duluth East High School (1969), then was drafted and stationed at West Point. He returned to Duluth with his first wife Jan (Soderberg, also from Duluth) and son Brian (Vats-Fournier, wife Mira), and soon had daughter Laura. Rick told stories of working at the London Inn (oh, those onion rings) and of being in the band “The Inn Mates” as the drummer. He worked in sales (Famous Foods, Klement’s, B Miller, and more) and was skilled at building relationships. He was a successful friend of Bill for decades. He met and married his second wife, Ellen (SteinerFournier, originally from New York) and they lived blissfully together with a variety of pets for 33 years. He is missed terribly by those who loved him. He is preceded in death by his parents and brother Mark; in-laws William and Martha Steiner, James Skoglund, Larry Abernethy, and Charlene Fournier. He is survived by his wife and children; grandchildren Rohan, Jaya, and Kiran Vats-Fournier; siblings Janet Skoglund, Suzette Abernethy, Ernest, Kenneth (Brenda), Barbara (James) Collette, Bonnie, and Raymond; in-laws Scott (Karen) Steiner; numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and good friends. Service to be held at the Duluth Chapel of the Cremation Society of Minnesota (4100 Grand Avenue, Duluth, MN 55807) on Friday, July 11, 2025 at 2pm with a reception afterwards. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the Union Gospel Mission Duluth. Arrangements by Cremation Society MN - Duluth. www.cremationsocietyMN.com