Richard A Meader

Celebration of Life Services for Richard A. "Rich" Meader will be held on Friday, November 22, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Pastors Nora Mendyk and Daren Popple officiating.  Interment will be held in the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege with military honors provided by the Martin-Horn American Legion Post #66 in conjunction with the United States Army Funeral Honors Team.

Richard Allen Meader, 86 years of age, of Kearney, Nebraska, passed away on Monday, November 18, 2019 at his home in Kearney.  Richard was born March 27, 1933, on the family farm southwest of Holbrook in Furnas County, Nebraska, the ninth of ten children born to Charles Wesley and Mable Alice (Sears) Meader.  Rich received his education from Holbrook Public Schools, and following his education he served his country.  He was inducted into the United States Army from April 16, 1953 until his honorable discharge on April 5, 1955.  When Rich was in his mid-thirties, he was baptized at the Baptist Church in Oxford.

On July 3, 1954, he was united in marriage to Donna McCashland and to this union four children were born:  Terreen, Bradley, Pamela and Shari.  The family made their home in Ogallala until moving to Oxford in 1959.  While in Oxford, Rich was employed by Robertson Chevrolet as a Parts Man.  In 1968, the couple owned and operated Donna's Dime and Dollar Store until they converted it to Meader's Floral and Gifts in 1971.  During this time, Rich also worked as a Supervisor at Becton-Dickinson in Holdrege, until his retirement in 1994, after over 25 years of service to the company.

On July 17, 1980, he was united in marriage to Sharon (Swindell) Avery, and the couple made their home in Holdrege.  Rich and Sharon enjoyed life on their acreage east of Holdrege for seventeen years.  In 2012, they began to make their home in Kearney.  They also enjoyed traveling together, camping on the weekends, and spoiling their two dogs:  Buster and Bella.

During retirement years, Rich enjoyed going to coffee at SunMart with his friends.  Those who knew Rich can relate to his witty sense of humor, and ornery demeanor.  Having fun was his first priority.  Rich was a past member of the American Legion in Oxford and Holdrege.

Rich leaves to celebrate his life; his wife, Sharon Meader of Kearney; his son, Bradley Meader of Oxford; his two daughters:  Pamela Rademaker and her husband, Doyle and Shari Geer and her husband, Kelly all of Holdrege; step-daughters:  Deanne Leffler and her husband, Dan of Kearney; Cindy Rollenhagen and her husband, Willis of Gothenburg, Nebraska; and Jennifer Renken and her husband, Robert of Bertrand; four grandchildren: Michelle Hunter and her husband, Travis of Holdrege; Blake Rademaker deployed overseas; Brock Rademaker of Lincoln, Nebraska; and Dylan Geer of Lincoln; four great-grandchildren: McKenna, Max, Amelia, and Alivia Hunter; step-grandchildren:  Ashley Camp and her husband, Jeff of Wahoo, Nebraska; Lindsay Wasser and her husband, Kyle of Seward, Nebraska; Tyler Leffler and his wife, Laura of Ceresco, Nebraska; Kristin Kruse and her husband, Dustin of Hanover, Kansas; Alic Pollan of Kearney; Cory Leffler of Houston, Texas; and Noah, Dawson, Lucas, Eli, and Rylan Renken all of Bertrand, Nebraska; eleven step great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law:  Denise Nelson of Lincoln; Donna Bitner and her husband, Jay of York, Nebraska; and Pam Johnson and her husband, Ken of Lincoln; brothers-in-law:  Jon Swindell of Baldwin City, Kansas; Dave Swindell and his wife, Salli of Hudson, Ohio; and Terry Swindell of Arvada, Colorado; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Besides his parents; he was preceded in death by his daughter, Terreen "Terre" Blue and her husband, Curtis; grandson, Aaron Blue; eight brothers:  Vaughn, Gordon, Charles Jr., Glen, Donald, Howard, Lyle, and Larry Meader; one sister, Wilda Stanley; father-in-law and mother-in-law:  Robert and Betty Swindell; and sister-in-law, Linda Early.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 21, 2019 from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Rich's honor, and kindly suggested to the family for later designation.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.