Richard F. Tegeler

Memorial Services for Richard F. “Dick” Tegeler, 86, Norfolk, will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, February 1, 2020 at Home for Funerals Chapel, 708 Georgia Avenue.  Reverend Stephen Lund will officiate.  Inurnment will be in Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery.  Military honors conducted by the Nebraska National Guard Honor Guard, American Legion Post 16 and VFW Post 1644.  Home for Funerals is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Tegeler passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 26, 2020 at St. Joseph’s Rehabilitation and Care Center in Norfolk with family by his side.

Richard was born October 28, 1933 in Battle Creek, Nebraska to Edwin and Mary (Eyl) Tegeler.  He attended Battle Creek High School.  Dick served in the U.S. Army from February 21, 1956 until December 16, 1962. 

On June 2, 1957, Richard married Carol Lee Ann Hamm at the Zion Lutheran Church in Hoskins.  As a married couple, they returned to Dick’s station in Fairbanks, Alaska where they purchased their first home and enjoyed the long long days of summer.  Before it turned to long and cold nights, they were sent to Texas to finish out his service.  They didn't bother selling the home they had purchased, just left it and headed south for a long and interesting road trip.  The couple was blessed with two amazing, although challenging at times, and loving children; Christi who lives in Loveland, Colorado and has worked for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for twenty plus years and Tony who is owner of The Granary restaurant in Norfolk.  

Thru the years, Dick was a Maytag Repair Man, Manager of CED (Consolidated Electrical Distributors), and maintenance supervisor at Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.   He was one-third of Tri Investments and thru them he was co-owner of The Wash Tub Laundromant and owned many rental properties in the Norfolk area.    Dick was a lifetime member of the AMVETS of Norfolk #17 which he frequented every Friday for years until he was no longer able to drive.  He was also an avid Nebraska Husker football fan and rarely missed a game!  Even when he could no longer see the game on TV due to his vision, he would listen to it while enjoying a cold beer and sharing his opinion about the plays, coaching and/or bad calls to anyone that would listen. He was always quick to help everyone and could fix, or attempt to fix, ANYTHING that was presented to him. He loved gardening, Nebraska football, spending time with his friends and family, shopping at Menards and tinkering in his shop.  He was always quick with a joke and a laugh and never turned down a challenge or adventure, like going on a cattle drive, moving a crumbling building on a broken trailer down the highway (always with a permit of course) or building an engine that ran on the fumes of heated gasoline hoping to get 80 plus miles per gallon, he installed a 'one of a kind' bathroom in his shop and life was never boring when he was around.  He was kind and generous to everyone and never had an unkind word to say about anyone, nor anyone about him.  He was the BEST Husband, Father, Grandfather and Great Grandfather anyone could ever hope for and he will be dearly missed!

He is survived by his wife, Carol of Norfolk,  Daughter, Christi Lee Rider of Loveland, CO and his Son, Richard Anthony "Tony" Tegeler of Norfolk, two grandchildren;  Jordan (Derrick) Boger of Norfolk and Sheridan Hamblin of Sterling, Colorado along with five great grandchildren, Izac, Jenahcie, Riya and Klaine of Norfolk and Haven of Sterling, CO.  His sisters, Alice (Lonn) Bottorff, and JoAnn (Ken) Boyer all of Norfolk, sisters-in-law Ruth Bierman and Verona Tegeler, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents and siblings Marvin, Ruth Bierman, Kenneth, Ervin, Gene and Donald.

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