Richard Armin Honquest

Richard Armin Honquest, 90, of Inverness, IL, died on Friday, June 20, 2025.  He was born on January 13, 1935 in Chicago, IL, to Armin and Virginia (Crowley) Lartz.  With his father’s untimely passing, Richard was then adopted at six years of age by William J. Honquest who was a dedicated step-father. 

Richard graduated from Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Illinois, which instilled in him discipline, giving him a foundation for his entire life.  He attended St. Mary’s College in Winona, Minnesota.  After excelling in furniture sales for a prominent retail furniture store in River Forest, at 24 years of age he managed a Lincolnshire store that specialized in residential design and window treatments.  Upon accumulating a wealth of knowledge while sharing his lunch with the drapery workroom staff, he decided to approach a recently semi-retired lady and her sister who agreed to set up a workroom to make custom draperies in the basement of one of their homes.  With the help of a self-employed drapery installer, and a newly improved credit rating from a Chicago-based fabric wholesale company who provided samples to fill the trunk of his car, the business commenced.

Upon becoming a recent resident of Elk Grove Village as the housing boom of the early 60’s accelerated, he connected with the California designer doing the developer’s model homes, who then provided him with the window fabrics, and he agreed to manufacture and install the window treatments free of charge.  That being accomplished as the homes were being occupied, one block at a time, he began ringing doorbells explaining that he was responsible for the beautiful window treatments in the model homes, selling 70% of the new occupants.  Richard then expanded his business by escorting people to the Merchandise Mart in Chicago to sell furniture to them from the factory showrooms.  With his natural flair for design, the business flourished.  With the assistance of his wife, Rachel, the possibilities for growth were endless.

Major builders recognized his design talent and organizational skills so that he, with his staff, provided completely furnished model homes for them throughout the United States.  In 1976, Richard helped a local real estate investor renovate the Ice House in Barrington.  He and his wife, Rachel, committed to lease a 10,000 square-foot showroom which occupied 60% of the newly designed facility.

In 1984 they built their own store on Barrington Road which, due to the growth of the business, required two additions within 10 years.  After 28 years of successfully managing that phase of the business, at 78 years of age he retired and sold the 80,000 square-foot building.  His ensuing years were spent with his loving wife and best friend, Rachel, his family, his Rottweiler dog, and many great friends, and enjoying boating on Lake Geneva in Wisconsin in his vintage Lyman wood boat and fulfilling his passion for the sport of tennis. He was very proud to be able to continue to play tennis up until a few months before his death.  

He is survived by his wife, Rachel Honquest; sons, Richard (Robyn), David (Roberta) and Timothy Armin (Rachel) Honquest; daughter, Julie (Jeff) Smith; brothers, Bill and Jim Honquest; sister, Diane Whitaker; grandchildren, Tess James, Jared Honquest, Richard (Katelyn) Honquest, Lizzy (Brian) Zielinski, Cole Honquest, Brennan Repp, Taylor (Brogan) Repp, Zachary Honquest, Zoe (Ryan) Rivera, Joshua (Jennifer) Smith, Eileen Smith and Nathaniel Smith; and several great-grandchildren.  Predeceased by his daughter, Maribeth Repp and sister-in-law, Marian Honquest.  

By Richard’s request, no services are planned.  Memorials to Fenwick High School Scholarship Fund, www.fenwickfriars.com/giving

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