Richard Wayne Ojakangas

Dr. Richard (“Dick”) Wayne Ojakangas died peacefully in his sleep during the early morning hours of December 16, 2025 at the age of 93. He was in his home overlooking Lake Superior in Duluth, Minnesota, where he lived with his beloved wife of nearly 70 years, Peaches, and his son Gregory, who was his devoted primary caregiver. He remained cheerful and positive to the end in spite of his declining physical health over several years due to complications related to Parkinson’s disease.

Dick was born November 20, 1932, in Moose Lake, Minnesota, and grew up in Kettle River and Warba. He was very proud of his 100% Finnish heritage. After graduating from Grand Rapids High School, he enrolled as a business major at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD), intending to take over the family store in Warba after graduation. However, during his senior year, he took an introductory geology class from Dr. Robert Heller, and switched his major after the first lecture to geology. He joined ROTC (Reserve Officer’s Training Corps) because he felt it was his patriotic duty to serve his country. After graduation, he was assigned to the USAF base in Upper Heyford, England. He married Finnish beauty Beatrice (Peaches) Luoma and they moved to England within one week after their wedding. Due to his geological expertise, Dick was assigned to be a Petroleum Supply Officer, fueling jets with highly toxic JP4 jet fuel. After two years in the Air Force, he continued his studies in geology, earning a master’s degree from the University of Missouri, and a PhD from Stanford University. Returning to Duluth, “Dr. OJ” enthusiastically taught geology at UMD for 38 years, where he was beloved by many hundreds of students. Dick was renowned as an entertaining and exceptional geology professor. He began each lecture with a Finn joke, and the punchlines were meticulously written on his calendar. His colleagues in the Geology Department were also his extended family and lifelong friends. He retired in 2002.

Dick wrote or collaborated on more than 60 scientific publications and several books, including the highly acclaimed Minnesota’s Geology, and Roadside Geology of Minnesota. He was awarded the prestigious Horace T. Morse Award for Distinguished Teachers from the U of MN, and received an honorary PhD from the University of Helsinki, Finland.

Dick was a passionate traveler and photographer, doing geological research on all seven continents. His work in Antarctica as part of the United States Antarctic Research Program (USARP) resulted in a mountain being named after him, Mount Ojakangas. In India, he found the first Archaean age (2.7 billion years old) glaciation ever discovered. And in Finland, he and a colleague were the first to determine the direction that glaciers moved through Northern Europe. As a world-respected geologist and an engaging, highly understandable speaker, he spread his enthusiasm for science by giving lectures on cruise ships from 1978 to 2017, feeding his obsession with traveling the world and amassing an exorbitant number of Frequent Flyer miles.

Curious and inquisitive, Dick entertained many interests and hobbies. He lived an active life - running several Grandma’s Marathon’s (all without training) and cross-country skiing (doing the Birkebeiner 54 km race in Wisconsin many times, also without training). Dick was an avid mushroom hunter on all continents where Chanterelles and Bolitus could be found and loved to teach his family and friends about this hobby. His wife, Peaches, stated that he could ‘find mushrooms, whether they were there or not!’

Known for his generosity, humor, and warm personality, Dick made sure everyone felt included and always sought out strangers, who promptly became his friends. His trademark greeting “Hiya!” and farewell “Cheers!” are remembered fondly by his family and friends. He loved to showcase Duluth and introduce the breathtaking beauty of Lake Superior to geologists from around the world. He relied on his beloved wife, Peaches, to prepare meals for them, often without much notice. His kindness and compassion extended to all living things. He loved all animals, releasing house flies rather than killing them, and never allowing hunting at their country home, which was affectionately dubbed “Dick’s Nature Preserve.” He was an active member of First Lutheran Church in Duluth, where he knew everyone, sang in the choir, served as president, and visited the homebound. Recognizing the need to serve the less fortunate, he helped to found Chum Ministries in Duluth.

Dick is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 70 years, Beatrice (Peaches) Ojakangas, his daughters Catherine (Christopher Kozak) and Susanna (Wilmer Roballo) and son Gregory Ojakangas (Melanie Sever), brother Dennis Ojakangas, and grandchildren Nikolas, Tomas and Isabella Friehs; Kieran, Celka (Christopher Vezzuto) and Lian Ojakangas; and Kaisa and Frans Elliott.

Dick was able to live the last years of his life at home surrounded by the love and energy of his family. Thanks also to Ecumen Hospice for their kindness and guidance during Dick’s final weeks.

A celebration of Dick’s incredible life will take place at First Lutheran Church in Duluth, Minnesota on Friday, January 30, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to Chum Duluth or First Lutheran Church Duluth are preferred.

Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 600 E 2nd Str. Duluth MN 55805, 218-727-3555.