Richard "Rick" Thomas Cauley

Richard “Rick” Thomas Cauley, age 73, of Mankato, died Thursday, April 11, 2019, at his home with his family by his side.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 PM, Tuesday, April 16, 2019, at Northview-North Mankato Mortuary. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM, Wednesday, April 17, 2019, at St. John the Baptist Church in Mankato with visitation one hour prior. Burial with military honors will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Mankato. Please share a memory of Rick with his family at www.mankatomortuary.com.

Memorials are preferred to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or online at www.stjude.org/donate.

Rick was born April 12, 1945, in Graceville, Minnesota to Thomas and Dorothy (Reinhart) Cauley. He graduated from Graceville High School in 1963.  On September 27, 1963, he enlisted with the United States Army to serve as a medical specialist during the Vietnam War. After being honorably discharged on June 26, 1970, Rick attended the St. Cloud School of Nursing, graduating in 1973. He was united in marriage to Stephanie (Steph) Schindler on February 15, 1974, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Le Center, Minnesota. From 1977 to 1979, Rick studied at the Rochester State Hospital School of Anesthesia becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).

Rick was a beloved family man, adored by all. Rick and Steph started their family in Byron, Minnesota, in April 1977 when their first son, Shawn, was born. Their second son, Nicholas, was born in January 1980 in Hutchinson, Minnesota, where they lived from 1977 to 1985. The family moved to Mankato, Minnesota, in 1985, and in 1992 moved to the home where they have lived for the past 27 years. Rick loved the neighborhood and his many neighbors, new and old. Rick became a grandfather in May 2010 when his granddaughter, Harper, was born to Nicholas (Jessica) Cauley. He welcomed a grandson, Bennett, in June 2013, also born to Nicholas (Jessica) Cauley.  He cherished his time spent with his grandkids and loved being a grandfather. Rick and Stephanie purchased a condo in Fort Myers, Florida, in 2017 where they planned to spend their winters in retirement. Rick hated the cold Minnesota winters and loved being in the sun and relaxing by the pool with Steph and his family.

Rick worked at St. Mary’s in Rochester as a Registered Nurse (RN) from 1973 to 1977 and had the privilege to work in the world’s first computerized intensive care unit.  From 1977 to 1985 he worked as a CRNA at Hutchinson Community Hospital. Upon moving to Mankato in 1985, he continued work as a CRNA at Immanuel St. Joseph’s Hospital until 1999 and Glencoe Regional Health Services until 2003. Looking for a change of pace and to be closer to home, Rick began working at the St. Peter Community Hospital until his retirement in 2011. In the latter stages of his career, Rick served as a locum at various hospitals and surgery centers in Minnesota and Wisconsin.  Rick was a treasured colleague making friends everywhere he went.

His many interests included horseracing, sports, gambling in Las Vegas, golfing, collecting gold and silver coins, and spending time with his family and friends, especially at their condo in Fort Myers, Florida. He will be remembered for his sense of humor, storytelling, quick wit, love of family and friends, and Caribou Coffee. He was a member of St. John the Baptist Church and VFW Post 950 in Mankato.

He is survived by his wife, Stephanie Cauley of Mankato; sons, Shawn of Mankato and Nicholas (Jessica) Cauley of Savage; grandchildren, Harper (8) and Bennett (5); siblings, Geraldine (Floyd) Behrens, Angeline (Roger) Nosbusch, Roger (Nancy) Cauley, and Thomas (Carol) Cauley; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Rick was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Dorothy Cauley; step-father, Leonard Marihart, brother, Dennis Cauley; niece, Renee Cauley; nephew, Shane Cauley; and many other relatives.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the wonderful caregivers that have aided Rick since being diagnosed with his first cancer in 1995. This includes the many doctors, nurses and staff from the Andreas Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic Rochester, and Mayo Clinic Health System Mankato.