Richard Allan Barry

Richard Allan Barry was born on February 4, 1956 in Wahoo, Nebraska to Wayne and Norma (Wesely) Barry. He grew up on a farm north of Malmo, Nebraska where he attended District #75 Country School and graduated from Wahoo High School in 1974. Dick went on to receive a BSBA from the University of Nebraska-Omaha in December of 2000 and was currently a master’s student at UNL in education. As a young boy, Dick enjoyed wrestling, football, inventing various contraptions, rescuing stray dogs and farming-he drove a tractor from age of 7. Dick married Joni Schultz on August 6, 1985 and to this union two children were born: Nathan and Ashley. After Dick and Joni were divorced, he married Teresa Zeilinger Smith on August 12, 1995 at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in David City, Nebraska and they have made their home in Elkhorn, Nebraska since 1997. Dick worked on the family farm before going to work at Hormel in Fremont, Nebraska as a Cost Analyst for 33 years. He enjoyed following his children’s activities, attending Elkhorn High School football games and working on cars. He received the Outstanding Football Fan Award in 2003, was a volunteer firefighter with the Malmo Fire Department, served Trinity Lutheran on the Board of Child Ministries, District #75 School Board Member and Fremont YMCA Y’s Men member. Dick could talk to anyone about just about any topic. He was the family historian; he knew details, stories and history about relatives, places and events. Dick kept up on current events and was a good debater. Dick faced his chronic illness with grace, dignity and humor. He could always make people smile and was concerned with others. When he was not able to treat his cancer any longer, he helped his family and friends to come to terms with his journey to heaven. Dick passed away on Christmas Eve at his home in Elkhorn at the age of 51 years, 10 months and 20 days. He was preceded in death by his parents Wayne and Norma and brother Dale. Dick is survived by his wife Teresa of Elkhorn, Nebraska; son Nathan of Gretna, Nebraska; daughter and son-in-law Ashley and Justin Sharpe of Wahoo, Nebraska; Step son Brandon Smith of Omaha, Nebraska; step daughter Megan Smith of Elkhorn, Nebraska; sisters Dianne Kuppig and Maria Nice both of Lincoln, Nebraska

Richard Allan Barry

December 24, 2007