He was raised in Younkers, New York, then enrolled into the United States Marine Corp which he held with the highest regard and honor. He attended Wesleyan University and later pursued his passion as a mechanic. He met and married Edith Brown in Lincoln, and he worked for various dealerships as a service manager and mechanic in Lincoln, NE. Around the 1980’s he moved to Buffalo, Ny with Edith and continued his work there. His love of VW’s and Mercedes earned him a master mechanic status and even after retirement they still called on him often for his consulting knowledge of the older model Mercedes. He was a known as the “trouble shooter” of difficult repairs that he knew the tricks to. After Edith passed away in 2005, he returned to Lincoln and later became engaged to Christel Matthiesen. They traveled to many places visiting family. After his 50+ years of mechanic work, he retired and began a part time job with his 2nd passion…trains. History and the railroad were his fascination, and he took a job driving the train conductors all over Nebraska. He enjoyed the conversations with them of their trips and they said they always looked forward to him picking them up because they knew they were in for a fun trip. He stopped driving for the railroad when the 2020 pandemic shut down the transporting. He loved all animals; he would feed or rescue any he came in contact with. He loved his cats Buffy (aka Buff puff) and Sophie. He enjoyed feeding the birds and watching Antiques Roadshow, history movies, and his favorite game shows. Press my luck was his favorite, no whammy’s! He Loved living with Christel in their apartment and his niece upstairs Linde. She had renovated their apartment, so they had all the conveniences they needed for fun retirement. They had a “Catio” which they enjoyed sitting and relaxing in watching the birds and the landscaping.Dick lost 2 of his brothers Billy and Steve in the past few years. He has a surviving sister Patty McEntire in Colorado and 2 stepsisters, Barbara and Cal Imel and Pam Wood. His sister in laws Marilyn and Lynn are surviving with nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews as well. Becky and Sergio Posada, Cindy and Tom. Keith Larsen, and Jesse his partner/wife. Milli and Brad Brooks and Saben Brooks, Mary Brown Kumar. Linde Matthiesen, Niece. On Christel’s side survivors, Horst Lesser brother-in-law, Edeltraudt and Willi Fax, Heek, Germany, Lieselotte Lesser, Lincoln, Ne, Nephews and nieces Harry Lesser and Sandee, Thea and Will Baird, Ronnie and Deb Lesser, Frank and Eva Lesser, Karin Lesser. more great nieces and nephews. He kept in touch with Edith’s family in the United States and Germany.
His heart was big, he was always up for any road trip, barbeque, or boilermaker celebrating the Marine Corp birthday or any occasion. He and Christel were together for 18 years (Since Edith was a cousin, they were always in Christel’s family since 1961) so he enjoyed all the family gatherings together such as holidays, reunions etc.) they had many adventures together, gardening, traveling, and spending time with Linde. He never gave up even with his Lung illness that slowed him down the last 2 years. He kept a positive attitude all the way up to the end. His kindness to all his caregivers was amazing. Everyone he came in contact with he made friends with. He was just pure joy to have touched all of us. His wishes to have a boilermaker in his honor. We all loved him. Rest in peace Uncle Dick.
Based on his wishes, no services will be held.
Memorials to the family in lieu of flowers.