Richard D. Ulrich

Richard Dewain Ulrich, known affectionately as Dick, passed away at the age of 90 on August 17, 2024 in LaVista, NE. Dick was born on May 26, 1934 in Atkinson, Nebraska to Dewain and Valeria Ulrich. He was a lifelong resident of Nebraska and was one of the first residents to buy a home in LaVista where he and his wife raised their five children and lived there for over 65 years.

Dick grew up in Stuart, Nebraska where he attended schools and graduated from Stuart High School in 1952. He met the love of his life, Ferne M. Osborne, at a dance, fell in love, and they were married on June 6, 1953, in Atkinson, NE.

Dick dedicated many years to his career as a bricklayer and took great pride in his work. He helped build many buildings around the Omaha area. Woodmen Tower is one that stands out and makes us think of him when we look at the Omaha skyline. Upon retiring from his trade, he decided he wanted to keep busy so he took a job with the City of LaVista in the Public Works Department. He absolutely loved mowing and anytime it snowed he was out there bright and early clearing the roads and parking lots so people could get to work and school.

An avid lover of the outdoors, Dick was well-known for his passion for hunting and fishing. He could be available to go hunting at a moment's notice, ready to hunt pheasants, ducks, geese, turkeys, deer, or any one of God’s creatures.  Dick would spend hours on a fishing boat just waiting for that “big one” to bite his line. Dick began his love of fishing with his Grandpa Bill at age seven and continued throughout his lifetime. Other hobbies of Dick included gardening, making birdhouses, and various welding projects displayed around his yard.

Dick was a beloved family man, survived by his children, Sheryl (Sheri) & husband Stewart Nelson of Garden City, KS, Michael (Mike) & wife Lois Ulrich of Papillion, NE, Darryl & wife Betsy Ulrich of LaVista, NE, Cynthia (Cindy) & husband Stephen Fuller of Omaha, NE, and Roger & wife Jolean Ulrich of Ralston, NE; thirteen grandchildren, thirty-one great-grandchildren, one brother, and four sisters.  Dick was preceded in death by his loving wife, Ferne, his parents, and one brother, Glen.

Dick’s legacy of love for family, craftsmanship, and the great outdoors will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, memorials suggested to St Jude Children's Research Hospital https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html?sl=donate-now&sc_dcm=58700008005633531&sc_cid=kwp&ds_rl=1291300&ds_rl=1285465&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIp6DM0PGDiAMVwDQIBR2REwa9EAAYASABEgLvE_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

or Wounded Warrior Project https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/Default.aspx?tsid=11585&ovr_acv_id=16821&campaignSource=ONLINE&source=BS24001AAABRXAA&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlvXm3fGDiAMVkUf_AR3l5hMREAAYASABEgL4CfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds