MADISON - Richard Newman ‘Dick” Ringler, age 90, died peacefully at his home in Madison, Wis., on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, where he lived with his beloved wife and partner of 65 years, Karin.

Dick, son of Paul and Frieda Ringler, was born in Milwaukee, Wis. He received a B.A. from Harvard University, a M.A. from the University of Wisconsin, and a Ph.D. in English Literature from Harvard in 1961. On Dec. 18, 1959, he married Karin Louise Erickson in Racine, Wis.

From 1961 to 2002 he taught in the English and Scandinavian Departments at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His academic career and research spanned Shakespeare and Old English, Beowulf and Old Norse and Icelandic literature and language, including topics as broad as the Vikings, Perspectives on Nuclear War and JS Bach. He published numerous books and is considered one of the world's foremost authorities on Icelandic literature. In 2004 he was awarded the Order of the Falcon by the President of Iceland, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson for his service to Icelandic culture. In the same year he received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Iceland for his work promoting the Icelandic language though an online portal, Icelandic On-Line! as well as his translation of the work of Iceland’s National Poet, Jónas Hallgrímsson, in Bard of Iceland. He actively promoted peace and global cooperation through education. In 1983 he founded Wisconsin Educators for Social Responsibility and in 1985 he founded and led the Wisconsin Institute: Consortium for the Study of War, Peace, and Global Cooperation.

Dick is survived by his wife, Karin Ringler; son, Thor Ringler; daughter, Tamsie Ringler; and grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Frieda Ringler; and sister, Betsy Ringler.

A memorial service will be held at HOLY WISDOM MONASTERY, 4200 County Road, M, Middleton, at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 6, 2024 (https://holywisdommonastery.org).

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson West

Funeral & Cremation Care

7435 University Ave.

(608) 831-6761

Richard Ringler

January 21, 1934 - February 23, 2024

Share photos of Richard