John Richard Biedenstein

John Richard (Dick) Biedenstein, of El Dorado Springs, MO, passed through death into eternal life on Saturday, November 1 at Harry S. Truman Veterans Hospital in Columbia, MO.  Born to John Henry and El-Vera Biedenstein on September 13, 1943 in Pattonville, MO, Dick graduated from Pattonville High School earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri – Columbia.  Dick served 5 years in the United States Navy as an operating room technician, treating the wounded from Vietnam on board a hospital ship near Guam.  In 1971, Dick became the proprietor of Uncle Joe’s Bar-B-Q restaurant in Branson, MO, growing the business from a small roadside stand to a full service restaurant on Highway 76. An expert cook, artist, and craftsman, Dick perfected the restaurant’s signature sauce, developed the graphic branding, and designed and built the smokehouse and expansions to the restaurant.  Beginning in 1999, Dick put his artistic talents to work as the Design Specialist for Ozark Timber Frame, developing plans for hand-crafted home and building frames. Two of his recent projects include design of bridges at the Top of the Rock golf course in Branson and a soon to be opened owl habitat display at the Bass Pro Shop in Springfield, MO.  Dick is survived by his son Michael-Paul (Kami) Biedenstein; grandsons Aidan and Brady; daughter Eaudra Biedenstein; mother El-Vera Biedenstein; and sister Elizabeth (Michael) Prange.  A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 27 at 4:00 PM at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 13014 Olive Blvd, Creve Coeur, MO.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association by visiting diabetes.org