Richard "Riick" Lawrence Authier

   A Celebration of Life visitation will be held for Dr. Rick Authier on Thursday, January 4th at the Home for Funerals from 3p.m. to 7p.m.

   Rick Authier was born on November 5th, 1937 in Sioux City, IA to parents Mary Louise (Menard) Authier and Noe Vincent Authier.  He attended Sioux City Schools and graduated from Central High School, “The Castle on the Hill”, in 1957.  After graduating from college in 1960 at the University of Kansas, he attended Southern College of Optometry in Memphis graduating in 1963.

   He worked briefly at Beatrice Vision Clinic where he met his wife, Sandy.  They married on December 27th, 1964 and lived in Omaha & Beatrice before settling in Norfolk in November of 1967.

   Dr. Authier practiced optometry in downtown Norfolk from 1967 to 2001 when he, Dr. Steven Miller, and Dr. Jeff Pape built the current Authier Miller Pape Eyecare building at 37th and Norfolk Avenue.  He loved the practice of optometry, most especially the relationships he developed with his longtime patients and being able to see their families grow across several generations.

   In his early years in Norfolk he worked with the Diamond Dick Scout District and enjoyed several camping trips, especially in winter.  For many years he was a member of Rotary International.  He especially loved the Rotary exchange visitors where he hosted David, a lumber importer from England as well as a physician from India.  He loved learning about their work and their culture.  He was pleased some years later to visit David at his home in England.

   He never tired of reading and studying about new advancements in eyecare, computers, and a myriad of other subjects.  He was proud to see Drs. Miller, Pape, and Goetsch continue the pattern he set of providing care based on each patient’s needs.

   He enjoyed a very special retirement trip in 2006 which included three weeks to explore England, Ireland, and Scotland.  He received a personalized certificate on how to pour the perfect pint at the Guinness House in Dublin and attended the British open in Wales.

   He began his enjoyment of golf in the late 70’s and increased his playing time after retirement.  He shot several “hole in one’s” during his golf career. He loved watching and encouraging young golfers and enjoyed working both the girls and boys state golf tournaments.  He was happy to introduce and encourage golf to his children and grandchildren. For over 40 years he made trips to Minneapolis yearly to play in an optical golf tournament with the proceeds going to the Minnesota school for the blind.  After retirement he loved getting an early start to the golf season with a group trip to Las Vegas.  Riick enjoyed putting together numerous golf trips over the years and completing memorabilia for the team.

   Those left to cherish his memories and celebrate his life are his wife of 53 years, Sandy Authier: their son Brian and wife Traci from Omaha, granddaughters Kimberly and Megan, their son Adam and wife Stacey from Norfolk, grandsons Zach and Austin, their granddaughter Ila and great grandsons Nole and Elyas, and nephew Marc Authier and wife Carisa from Cottonwood, Arizona.

   Preceding him in death were his daughter Christa Suzanne, his parents, his sister Mary Lou Wynkoop, brother-in-law Forest Wynkoop, his brother Noe, and sister-in-law Jonnie.

   In his life Rick never liked to see a child hurt or in pain and the end of his life he was grateful for the care that he received that allowed him to be home nearly to the end.

   For those reasons he requests that any memorials given be directed to either Faith Regional Hospice Care to provide comfort and care to those in need or to Nebraska Make a Wish to provide a memorable time in the life of a child who is ill.

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