Allen C. Richards

October 7, 1927 - August 22, 2021

Allen Richards, 93 of Riverdale, NE passed away Sunday, August 22, 2021 at his home with his loving wife of 65 years by his side. Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m Thursday, August 26, 2021 at O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home in Kearney. Interment will follow at Riverdale Cemetery with Military Honors provided by the Miller American Legion in conjunction with the Nebraska National Guard Funeral Honors Team. Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to CHI/ Good Samaritan Rescue Unit or to the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office. Condolences may be shared online at www.osrfh.com. Services are entrusted to O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral and Cremation Services. Allen was born October 7, 1927 in Oconto, NE to Carl A. and Millie (Earl) Richards. He grew up in Eddyville area and graduated as Valedictorian from Eddyville High School with the class of 1945. Allen moved to Amherst in 1947 and then enlisted in the United States Army in March 1951. He served in the U.S. Army from 1951 – 1952, Stationed in Korea with the 568 Ordinance HM Company. Allen was united in marriage to Carolyn Swearingen on October 31, 1955 in Lexington, NE. The couple made their home in Amherst and then moved to Riverdale in 1963. To this union, four children were blessed, Leroy, Rhonda, Janette, and Carl. Allen used his knowledge of welding to help others. He did custom harvesting, taking his young family on the road during the summer. He worked in the Kearney factories of Caldwells and Rockwell. He later operated his own repair shop in Riverdale. Allen enjoyed working with steel products and made several iron art pieces, using scraps. Allen was a member of Grace Fellowship Church in Kearney. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion, VFW and DAV where he held various positions on many boards. Allen also served as a Town Board Member and Town Water Operator in Riverdale. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Carolyn Richards of Riverdale; children, Leroy (Sue) Richards of Christiana, TN, Rhonda (Stan) Jeffries of Overton, Janette (Lynn) Mares of Wilber, and Carl (Jodi) Richards of Kearney; grandchildren, Morgan (Kamilla) Richards of Tennessee, Lindsey Richards of La Vista, Clint (Hallie) of Omaha, Amanda Jeffries Jarmin of Overton, Clayton (Shannon) Jeffries of Overton, Brian (Ashley) Jeffries of Kearney, Teresa (Josh) Lauridsen of Kearney, Austin (Brook) Jeffries of Sioux City, IA, Andrew (Missy) Jeffries of Lincoln, Cordell, Kolby and Kyle Richards of Kearney; 17 great grandchildren; and his dog, Bailey; Allen was preceded in death by his parents; four sisters; brothers and sisters-in-law.