Richard Sundstrom Obituary

Sundstrom
Richard Walter
Sundstrom
July 27, 1938
February 10, 2026

Devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Richard Walter Sundstrom departed from us on February 10, 2026. Referring to himself as Dick, a tribute to his favorite comic strip character, Dick Tracy, he breathed his last as he took hold of the hands of his personal Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Born in The Bronx, New York on July 27, 1938, and raised by his parents in a multi-level rowhouse they shared with his uncles, that was affectionately known as 'the cold house' due to its poor insulation and drafty open-air center column. Growing up in the post-Murderer's Row era of Yankees lore provided ample opportunities to listen and watch this team's fearsome lineup play in the House that Ruth Built and also their crosstown rivals, the NY Giants, play at the 3rd version of the Polo Grounds. And on many Saturdays, Richard and a cast of school chums would explore this vast metropolitan area, steeped in cultural, historical and iconic features and locales.
His adventurous nature would take him later in life to 49 of the 50 states and globetrotting through 6 of the 7 continents and dozens upon dozens of countries. Along the way, he viewed and climbed many of the ancient wonders of this world, but what piqued his interest most was archaeology. As a long-standing member in the Pikes Peak Chapter of the Colorado Archaeological Society, the stories of these artifacts and rock art, left behind by past generations of people groups, were forever etched upon his own imagination and interpretation.
As part of the Silent Generation, Richard took advantage of a summer internship with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and was introduced to computers. This led to a position with Western Electric (the manufacturing arm of AT&T). Throughout his tenure there, he completed company-sponsored coursework, earned his Bachelor's degree, as well as promotional advancements to retire 30 years later at the level of Department Chief. But he wasn't done there.
His second career took him into the Lord's work where he used his vast skill set in IT Systems at Focus on the Family, located in Colorado Springs, CO.
As a young man, he met and married his beloved wife Barbara, "Trilby Louise" to all who knew her, and together for 57 years, they raised their children at home and in the great outdoors. Family camping trips, hunting and fishing were the things he liked to do most, and together they filled the summer and fall seasons. Richard followed the One true fisher of men his entire life, was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church and rebaptized at the Jordan River in the Holy Land. A true renaissance man of the arts and sciences, he was also a gifted artist and aborealist, who freehand, hand-painted life-size trees, Disney characters and steam-powered locomotives across his children's, grandchildren's and even his own bedroom walls. A ludophile, dissectologist and cruciverbalist, he was also fond of storytelling and quick to volunteer for any amateur theatrical play-acting covering a broad spectrum of roles to the delight of children and adults alike.
Richard is survived by his sister, Barbara Brennan, and his children David and Stacy (McKee) Sundstrom, Deborah Booth, Mark and Susie (Lowe) Sundstrom, and Amy Sundstrom, his grandchildren Kinsey and Katie Sundstrom, Jason Booth, Cameron and Nicole Booth, Savannah and Steven Cariaga, Jacob and Emily Sundstrom, Paige Sundstrom, Luke and Cheyenne Sundstrom, and Noelle Sundstrom, and his great-grandchildren Jonah Booth, Kaiden and Emma Richart, Piper, Bridget, Margot, and Autumn Cariaga, Phoebe Sundstrom, Liam and Levi Sundstrom and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Richard's parents, Gunnar Walter and Florence Louise Sundstrom preceded him in death.
A celebration of Richard's life is scheduled for Thursday, March 26 at 10:00 AM at Mesa Hills Bible Church, 615 West Uintah Street, Colorado Springs. A private family graveside service will be conducted at Evergreen Cemetery.