Richard Nolan Obituary Hon. Richard M. Nolan December 17, 1943 - October 18, 2024 All are welcome to celebrate Ricks life on Saturday, October 26, at Breezy Point Lodge- White Birch Room in Breezy Point, MN. Visitation at 10am. Program at 11am. Lunch following. In lieu of flowers, memorials may go to Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation or plant a tree in Ricks memory. "A guy of attainments, greatness, kindness, and fun, Rick was a near perfect example of what politics should be about. He had the magic. Best of all, he knew how to make each of his friends feel special. We will miss him forever." By a friend "Always look out for the little guy," his dad advised him. "The rich and powerful have a way of looking out for themselves." Congressman Rick Nolan wore the title "politician" as a badge of honor. He was passionate in his belief that politics must be about "fixing things, solving problems, and making life better for people." He was especially proud to have been named one of the top ten most effective members of the 113th Congress in a study published in the Washington Post. In Congress, he used his uncanny political skills, Irish wit, charm, and legendary oratorical powers (Governor Tim Walz quipped, "His speeches could blow the lid off the roof") to build bipartisan support for Social Security and Medicare, universal health care, unions, working families, educators, seniors, farmers and small towns, and for those living in the margins of society. And he was chief author of legislation in the 1970s, signed by President Carter, which established The Presidents Commission on World Hunger and Malnutrition. Rick was a fierce opponent of wars of choice, authoring legislation in 1975 that finally cut off funds for the Vietnam War. In 2013, TIME Magazine cited his leadership in preventing the United States from going to war in Syria. In the modern era, according to the Wall Street Journal, Rick holds the record for longest period of time between periods of service in Congress: 1975 1981 and 2013-2019. During the 32 years in between, working with Governor Rudy Perpich, he was the driving force behind construction and operation of the Minnesota World Trade Center. Meanwhile, he purchased and operated a sawmill and wood pallet factory in northern Minnesota and founded a company that specialized in marketing U.S. products around the world. Throughout his long career in politics and business, Rick remained firmly grounded in the beautiful lake country of northern Minnesota. He loved Mary, his wife of more than forty years, and the life they made in the north woods. With family and friends, they hunted, fished, planted thousands of trees, harvested wild rice in the fall and gathered maple syrup in the spring. More recently, they became avid beekeepers. Rick was happily involved with his family grown children Mike, Leah, John and Katherine(deceased) and sister Mary Pat. Rick thought nothing of driving several hundred miles to catch a football or basketball game or a performance featuring any of the 13 grandchildren who were his pride and joy. Rick lived a life filled with an equal measure of accomplishment and love. He made the world a better place, and he will be missed. Preceded in death by parents Henry & Mary Nolan, brother James Nolan, & daughter Katherine Bensen. Survived by wife Mary Wieland-Nolan, sister Mary Pat Grisby (Lance), children Mike Nolan (Lynette), Leah Nolan Heggerston (Danny) & John Nolan (Anna), grandchildren Mitchell Nolan, Jordan Ohotto (Natalie), Taylor Darnauer (Luke) & Justin Ohotto (Jaci), Eleanor Heggerston (Tara Velez), Magaret Heggerston (Spencer Rundquist) & Huck Heggerston, Jack Nolan (Annika Schlagel) & Carter Nolan, Henry Bensen, Anne Bensen, Millicent Bensen & Sadie Bensen. Sister-in-laws Lucy Wieland (Bill Mauzy), Newby Gruenhagen (Rick) & Liz Martin (Tom), nieces Meghan Stemple (Jerame) & Kaley Mauzy (Daniel Del Prado) & nephews Billy Mauzy (Mary Alice), Luke Gruenhagen & Sam Gruenhagen. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for memorial gifts to the Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation. Cash/Check memorials may be made payable to "BLACF" and note in memo, "Nolan Memorial Gift", and included in cards at service or mailed to: BLACF, 406 W. Washington St., Suite 5, PMB 184 Brainerd, MN 56401 or online gifts with credit card may be made by scanning the QR code or at :https://www.communitygiving.org/fund/nolan-memorial-gifts/ .