Richard Charles Droste October 7, 1950 – March 8, 2026

CHARLESTON - Richard Charles Droste, 75, of Charleston, Illinois, passed away on March 8, 2026.

Richard was born on October 7, 1950, in Litchfield, Illinois, to Vernon E. Droste and Alice E. (Niemann) Droste, both of whom preceded him in death. On August 15, 1971, he married Mary Dawson in Peru, Illinois. Together they shared more than 54 years of marriage, built on love, family, and unwavering devotion. She survives.

Richard is also survived by his children, Emilie Droste Erickson (Todd) of Flower Mound, Texas, and John Droste (Lesley) of Carmel, Indiana. He was a proud grandfather to Jack Erickson, Caroline Erickson, Sam Erickson, Dawson Droste, and Curtis Droste, who brought him tremendous joy.

He is further survived by his siblings, Charles (Vicki) Droste and Barbara (Mike) Rademacher. He was preceded in death by his brother, David Droste.

Richard graduated from Mt. Olive High School in 1968 and earned a degree in Finance from Eastern Illinois University in 1972. He later completed the Illinois Bankers Graduate School and the Graduate School of Banking in Madison, Wisconsin.

He enjoyed a long and successful career in banking, serving as president of two community banks in Illinois. Later, he transitioned to the technology sector, where he spent 33 years providing software solutions to bank lending departments before retiring in 2020.

Throughout his life, Richard was known for his calm, diplomatic approach and his willingness to mentor others- always taking time to guide friends and loved ones with patience, fairness, and respect.

Richard was an active member of the Illinois Bankers Association and the Montgomery County Bankers Association. Earlier in his career, he was involved with the Jaycees and received the organization’s Key Man Award for his service. He also volunteered at the Cahokia Mounds Historic Site in Collinsville, Illinois.

Richard took great pride in working on and maintaining the family home. Above all, he cherished time spent with his grandchildren and loved attending their activities, especially baseball, soccer, and gymnastics.

Richard will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, and mentor who believed in doing things the right way. He worked hard, never cut corners, and quietly took care of the details others often overlooked. He led with diplomacy, listened before speaking, and generously shared his knowledge to help others succeed. He taught his children to be ambitious, to help others, and to live with integrity. Though he never sought recognition, his steady example, thoughtful guidance, and quiet generosity left a lasting impact on everyone who knew him. His legacy lives on in the values he instilled in his family.

Visitation will be held Thursday, March 12, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church, 2206 South Fourth Street, Charleston, Illinois, with funeral services beginning at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Roselawn Cemetery in Charleston. Arrangements: Harper-Swickard.

To honor Richard, please consider a contribution to Charleston Rotary Club as he was awarded the Paul Harris Fellow recognition for those who exemplify service above self.