Richard Tapscott
December 01, 2013
Richard Tapscott, 65, passed away on December 1, 2013. Family will greet friends on Wednesday, December 4, 2013 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines. A private family memorial service will be held on Thursday morning.
Rick was born on March 17, 1948 in Trenton, Missouri to Margaret (Ellis) and Farrell Tapscott. He graduated from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and worked for several newspapers during his career, including the Washington Post, The Des Moines Register, and other newspapers in Wilmington, DE; Kansas City, Wichita, Oklahoma City, Fayetteville, NC and Trenton, MO. He retired from the newspaper business in 2007 and began teaching at Drake University. Rick was beloved and respected by his peers, his coworkers, and his students.
Rick had three loves in his life, his children, his wife, and The Lake.
He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Barbara; his children, Graham (Tiffany) Tapscott, Blaine (Colleen) Tapscott, and Amy Tapscott; his grandchildren, Iain, Brady and Quinn Tapscott; his siblings, Robert (Evelyn) Tapscott, Ronald (Doris) Tapscott, and Shirley (Tom) Trainer; sisters-in-law, Linda (Gary) Dreessen, and Susan Musfeldt; brothers-in-law, Steve and Dale (Vicky) Musfeldt; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Drake University School of Journalism and Mass Communications Scholarship Fund in honor of Professor Richard Tapscott. Online condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.
Bill Clark
12/03/2013
Rick and I were friends and went to school together in Trenton, Missoui. I know all that knew him growing up will miss a old friend who was always one of the best people you could meet and know. Our thoughts and prayers are with Barbara and the family as we join friends he made all over the midwest and wherever he spent any time
Monroe Dodd
12/03/2013
Rick was a fine journalist and a good and witty guy. Without fail, he found the right phrase for every situation.
Barbara Quandt
12/03/2013
With deepest sympathy to Barbara and his family.
Barbara Janson
12/03/2013
We are so heart-broken to learn of the sudden loss of your youngest brother.. Rick and his generous spirit and big smile will always be remembered . We so wish we could both be there to share precious memories of Rick, with family and friends at the Cabin on Big Island. with all our love and deepest sympathy, your cousin, Barb Greiner Janson, and your Auntie, Shirley Greiner
Dr. Mike & Connie Ritze
12/03/2013
We send our sincere sympathy and Prayers to Rick's Family, but we rejoice at his promotion to Heaven...Acts 16:31. Love, The Mike Ritze Family
Dick Haws
12/03/2013
I spent a lot of years in and around newspapers. I was always looking for "the good editor." Rick was it.
Kim Andereck.
12/03/2013
"Atque in perpetuum frater ave atque vale."
As close as a brother, Rick was a classmate, teammate, Sunday school cohort, fellow Boy Scout and lifelong confidant. I shall miss him so.
And forever, brother, hail and farewell.
Jane Norman
12/02/2013
Rick was the kind of editor all of us in journalism would either want to work for or to become someday. Smart, funny and kind, yet also tough and uncompromising in his standards and expectations. But you know, when I think back on the conversations I had with him, they were not mostly about the news business - they were about family, his or mine. He had a big heart. I am so sorry for your loss.
Mary Ungs-Sogaard
12/02/2013
Rick has been an original board member on the Iowa Center for Public Affairs Journalism (www.iowawatch.org) giving his time and talent to the development of this non-profit organization. I met him as we both came onto this board of directors. He has been a source of insight, always willing to help in any way. I will miss his humor and his intellect.
Don Baker
12/02/2013
I communicated with Rick a couple times after he returned to the Midwest and I know he was happy to be home. He left big footprints behind at The Post, and even bigger friendships.
Tom Lansworth
12/02/2013
I also worked with Rick at The Washington Post, and my wife, Jane Norman, was a colleague of his at the Register. He was a committed journalist and a true gentleman. It was a privilege to work with him. He will be missed.
Gene Meyer
12/02/2013
Rick was not just my editor but also a good friend. My wife and I were privileged to attend his wedding - it was small, just us, Steve Fahr and his wife and the happy couple. Rick had a great sense of humor which could also be mischievous. There was a reporter in the PG bureau who was a neat freak. Rick took great delight in messing up her desk one day when she wasn't there. I was happy to see that he rose to become ME of a major daily newspaper after he left the Post. He will be greatly missed.
Steve Fehr
12/02/2013
Rick helped me realize my dream of working at The Washington Post when he recommended me to the editor who would hire me. Before that, we covered the Kansas Statehouse together from Topeka. We shared everything and Rick was like a brother to me. I was privileged to attend Rick and Barb's wedding; he was so happy that day. What I really want you to know about Rick was his deep love of his home state of Missouri, his hometown of Trenton and his passion for the University of Missouri Tigers. When my Dad died, Rick replaced him as the person who shared my passion for Mizzou football. I just hope he knew the score of Saturday's game before he passed.
Marylou Tousignant
12/02/2013
I also worked with Rick at The Post, and echo everything Lissa said. No matter how bad a day you might be having, Rick made it better with his smile and wry comments. He will be greatly missed.
Lissa Muscatine
12/02/2013
I worked with Rick many years ago at The Washington Post (indeed I hired him) and was deeply saddened to learn about his passing. He was a gentleman to the core, a lovely person and a dedicated journalist who was a joy to be around. I will always remember him very, very fondly.
Lissa Muscatine