Richard ”Dick” Wilson, 89 Kearney resident Richard Dale Wilson, 89, of Kearney, died Sunday, May 12, 2019 at WEL-Life in Kearney. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 17, 2019 at the O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home in Kearney with the Rev. Jerry Schwarz officiating.
Interment will be in the Kearney Cemetery immediately following the service. Visitation with family receiving friends will be 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service. Memorials are suggested to Kearney First United Methodist Church or to the Kearney Elks Club.
Condolences may be shared online at www. osrfh.com. Services are entrusted to O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral and Cremation Services.
Dick was born October 30, 1929 in a farm house two miles west of Loup City, Nebraska to Henry J. and Alma P. (Elrod) Wilson. He was baptized in the United Methodist Church and has been a life member of the church. He grew up in Loup City, Nebraska through 10th grade, then moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming, graduating from Central High School in Cheyenne in May of 1947.
He attended the University of Nebraska until 1948, where he played freshman football. He then transferred to Colorado State University in Fort Collins, where he played football and was an All-Conference Tackle. He left briefly when his father had a farm accident.
He returned in 1950 and graduated in May of 1953 with a Bachelor of Science in Vocational Agriculture Education. Dick was in the Navy reserves from 1947 to 1952, then was commissioned in the Army Reserves in December of 1952 as a second lieutenant in the field artillery. He was honorably discharged in 1957.
Dick fell in love with Donna Mae Skiles while at CSU, and they married on February 25, 1951 in Greeley, Colorado. To this union, four children were born: Sherri, Clark, John and Suzan. Dick taught Vocational Agriculture at Minden High School, and in May of 1966, he received his master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling from Kearney State College.
He continued teaching Vo Ag and also taught young and adult farmer classes and was an FFA Sponsor at various schools for several years. Dick and Donna purchased farm ground near Pleasanton, and along with farming also raised horses. Dick was Past Master of Minden Masonic Lodge #127.
He was a member of Kearney First United Methodist Church, the Kearney Elks Lodge #984, Rob Morris Masonic Lodge, Tehama Shriners, and Fort Kearney Shrine Club. Survivors include his children, Clark (Cherlyn) Wilson of Omaha, John (Laura) Wilson and Suzan Wilson, all of Kearney; grandchildren, Shannon Murry of Omaha, Brian (Lindsey) Murry of Johnstown, Colorado, Chrisanne (Bryan) Wickham of Kearney, and Kisten Wilson, Erick Wilson, & Katerina Wilson of Omaha; great-grandchildren, Taylor Wickham and Morgan Wickham of Kearney and Olivia Murry of Johnstown, Colorado; nieces, Rosie Wilson and Lou Ann Goding; nephew, Roger Wilson; and a host of family and special friends, Steve and Lori O’Brien. He was preceded in death by his wife Donna; daughter Sherri Wilson; his parents; and brother, Hank Wilson.
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