Richard "Dick" Cepel

October 12, 1936 - October 25, 2018

Richard L. Cepel, 82 Grand Rapids, MI, formerly of Kearney Richard L. “Dick” Cepel, 82, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, formerly of Kearney, passed away on Thursday, October 25, 2018 at his home. Memorial services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 8, 2019 at O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home in Kearney. A private family inurnment will be held at the Kearney Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation. Condolences may be shared online at www.osrfh.com. Services are entrusted to O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral and Cremation Services. Richard Lee “Dick” Cepel was born on October 12, 1936 in Kearney to Julius and Pauline (Hilty) Cepel. He received his education from Kearney High School graduating with the class of 1955. He was united in marriage to Wilma Wood and with her had three children: Bruce, Curtis and LeAnn. The couple later divorced. He married Sonia Deterding who had two daughters of her own, Elizabeth and Christine. The couple later had one child together: Eric. Sonia preceded Dick in death. He later married Rose Otto who had two children of her own: Craig and Denice. Dick spent most of his life working in the Kaufmann-Wernert building in Kearney. He first started in maintenance in his youth and worked his way up to store manager. He left Kaufmann-Wernert in 1985, just a few years before they closed and returned in 1991 and opened Kaufmann’s Antiques where he worked for 20 more years. Dick was a member of the Masonic Temple, Pheasants Forever, Downtown Kearney, Kearney Archery Club, Fort Kearney Bowman and the Shriner’s. Anything he could do to spend time outdoors he enjoyed, such as hunting and fishing. Dick was always known for his heart for helping others. Left to cherish his memory are his children, Bruce Cepel of Kearney, Curtis Cepel of Loveland, CO, LeAnn Bennett and her husband, Boyce of Casper, WY and Eric Cepel and his wife, Kristina of Holdrege; step-children, Elizabeth Bauer and her husband, Marc and Christine Tighe and her husband, David, all of Kearney, Craig Otto and his wife, Denise of Belmont, MI and Denice McRae and her husband, Michael of Lowell, MI; 8 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; 9 step grandchildren; 3 step great-grandchildren; two sisters, Carol Daily and her husband, Ted of Sacramento, CA and Joyce Smith and her husband, Jim of Brookings, OR; along with other relatives and many friends. Dick was preceded in death by his parents and his second wife, Sonia.