Richard J. Harpenau

Richard J. “Rick” Harpenau passed away peacefully at his home in Tell City, Indiana, on May 11, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. He was 68 years old.

Born on February 24, 1958, Rick was the son of Robert and Janice (Feldpausch) Harpenau. He was a 1976 graduate of Tell City High School and later attended the University of Evansville, where he was a proud member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) fraternity.

Rick was previously married to Susan (Sternberg) Harpenau from 1981 to 1998, with whom he shared two children. He later married Pamela Tsimekles on May 19, 2000, and together they shared 25 wonderful years of marriage, building a blended family rooted in love, laughter, and support for one another.

Rick grew up immersed in the insurance business, watching his father build Harpenau Insurance from the ground up. Following in his father’s footsteps, Rick pursued a career in insurance and became a respected insurance specialist, earning distinctions such as CIC (Certified Insurance Counselor). Through his unwavering dedication, industry expertise, and forward-thinking leadership, Rick built upon his father’s legacy and grew Harpenau Insurance into a highly respected, thriving business serving clients nationwide until his retirement.

A faithful member of St. Pius Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus, Rick valued his faith, family, and service to others deeply. Above all else, Rick cherished time spent with his family. Whether cheering from the sidelines at sporting events, gathering for family celebrations, or simply enjoying being together, his family was truly the center of his life. His loud, welcoming hellos and warm smile were well known throughout the community, and he was always quick to lend a hand to friends, family, or anyone in need. Rick also had a tremendous passion for his work and took great pride in helping others through his business. While many joked that he was a workaholic, those who knew him understood how much he genuinely loved what he did. Still, family always came first. He also never passed up the chance for a hot fudge brownie sundae.

Rick is survived by his loving wife, Pam Harpenau; his children, Ben Harpenau (Stephanie), Emily Wright (Jon), James Tsimekles (Jennesy), Nichole Roesch (Zach), and Allison Green (Kyle); his eleven grandchildren, Ella and Brody Harpenau, Finn and Remy Grace Wright, Nicolas and Evelyn Tsimekles, Michael, Jackson, Cecilia, and Sullivan Roesch, and Zoe Green; his mother, Janice Harpenau; and his sisters, Paula Simon-Stiles (Barry) and Lisa Cole (Randy); and the mother of his children, Susan (Sternberg) Harpenau, along with countless nieces and nephews.

Rick was preceded in death by his father, Robert Harpenau, and his brother-in-law, Daniel “Frank” Simon.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. CST on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at St. Pius Catholic Church in Troy, Indiana, with burial to follow in Calvary Cemetery in Troy, IN.

Visitation will be held from 2:00 until 7:00 p.m. CST on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, and again from 8:30 until 9:15 a.m. Thursday at Zoercher-Gillick Funeral Home in Tell City.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Pius Catholic Church or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Condolences may be left at zoercher-gillickfuneralhome.com

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