Richard Harvey Copple

Richard H. Copple was born July 28, 1947, in Council Bluffs, IA to Melborne and Maxine (Christians) Copple. Rich grew up in Logan, IA and graduated from Logan High School in 1965. He was active playing baseball, basketball, running track, and fishing. Rich then attended Wayne State College and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1969. Rich married Roberta Taylo on November 24, 1967, in Missouri Valley, IA, and to this union, three children were born: Amber, Andrea, and Christopher. The family made their home in Blair, NE, then spent many years in Fremont, and then settled in Omaha. Rich spent his entire career in the Banking and Finance Industry, until retiring to focus on duties surrounding his two granddaughters, his mother and maintaining a meticulous and perfect lawn and outdoor living space. Rich enjoyed bowling, fishing (especially off the dock at Bob and Jan’s Lake Ventura home), dominating a game of “bags”- Corn Hole, boating, dancing, watching sunsets, and vacationing in Mexico. Rich will be remembered as a dedicated, honest, loyal, thorough, and big-hearted man. He had a sweet tooth, favoring cookies, ice cream, his mother’s Cherry Pie, and candy (red Nibs, Bit-O-Honey and recently, to the chagrin of his dental team, Milk Duds). He also loved Chicken and Noodles (his mother’s homemade noodle recipe) and no Christmas morning breakfast was ever complete without the family tradition of “Gritvous”. He liked listening to classic oldies and Rock and Roll, especially Elvis, Johnny Cash, and Buddy Holly, and he liked watching classic TV and movies, such as Johnny Carson, Benny Hill, and John Wayne. More recently, he had become a fan of crime shows like Law & Order and NCIS. He was a lifelong Husker fan, and enjoyed following and cheering for the baseball, football and volleyball teams. Rich had many fun years tailgating and attending games with family and friends. He was blessed with a beautiful head of hair, and rarely found a single strand out of place, even up to the day he passed. One thing Rich believed; the speed limit was not meant to be broken. In fact, if you were stuck in a line of cars, Rich was most likely leading the pack. Rich cherished spending time with his sister, Barb, and her husband, Tod, who is truly more of a brother to him. Those knowing them well will agree their stories are vast and WAY too numerous to list, but a few highlights are: 3-wheeler races, cheese ball, golfing and vodka tonics, the many Halloween parties, and other gatherings. More than anything, Rich loved his family. He taught all three kids how to properly throw a baseball and football and coached both his girls’ softball teams. He also imparted his wisdom on when, where, and how to hunt for the coveted and elusive morel mushroom. Rich taught the kids to water ski, as well, and later was happy to drive the boat with one of his granddaughters on his lap. Above all, he took tremendous pride and joy in his granddaughters, Alexis and Ava. He never missed a sports event, dance recital or a day to pick them up from school. Rich passed away on Sunday, July 21, 2024, at Methodist Hospital in Omaha at the age of 76 years, 11 months, and 24 days. He was preceded in death by his parents Melborne & Maxine Copple. Rich is survived by his wife Roberta, children Amber & Vince Burk of Omaha, Andrea Gutschow, and her fiancé Mike McDermott of Omaha, and Christopher Copple of Omaha, granddaughters Alexis and Ava Gutschow, and sister Barbara & Tod Wilcock of Florida. Memorial service 11 AM Saturday, July 27 at Reichmuth Funeral Home, Elkhorn with visitation one hour prior. Private interment. Memorials to the American Heart Association.

Richard Harvey Copple

July 28, 1947 - July 21, 2024