Richard R. German (Dick)

Spalding, NE

1941, Unknown,

Richard "Dick" R. German, 94, of Spalding, NE passed away Friday, August 3, 2018 at the Good Samaritan Society-Albion, NE.

Per Dick's wishes he was cremated. There will be a private family burial in St Michael's Catholic Cemetery, Spalding, NE at a later date.

Memorials are suggested to the Spalding Senior Center. Dolce-Scheef Mortuary of Spalding, NE is in charge of arrangements.

Dick was born October 23, 1923 to Deryl and Kathryn (Gilroy) German, the second of four children. He spent much of his childhood on his Grandma and Grandpa Gilroy's farm. He fondly remembered the impromptu ball games in the meadow with the Bernts and Glasers. Dick attended Spalding High School graduating in 1941.

Dick was an outstanding athlete excelling in basketball and track at Spalding High. Throughout his life he enjoyed sports, playing town team basketball, baseball and softball. After retirement he and Popsy were regular fixtures at the local high school track meets and football games. They loved to travel to Lincoln and around the state following their grandchildren's activities.

Following graduation Dick worked on his grandparent's farm and at S.E. Smith and Sons lumber yard. At the encouragement of some other Spalding boys, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corp. He worked on bridges and highways through Nebraska as well as the Black Hills and Badlands in South Dakota.

In 1943 Dick joined the 449 Bomber Unit 777 Squadron of the Army Air Corp the Army Air Corp. He was based at Grottaglie near Toranto in southern Italy. When he returned home in 1945, he once again took a job at the lumber yard. He attended the University of Nebraska for one year then worked for the State of Nebraska doing bridge work. Later on he worked for (Paul) Semper Electric and the Spalding Light Plant. In the early 1960s he began helping his mother, who had purchased McKinney's store. He and Popsy finally took ownership of German's Grocery in 1973. Dick and Popsy retired in April 1987. Following his retirement, Dick worked with Bill Molt laying water lines in pastures in Greeley, Wheeler and Boone counties.

In 1945 Dick began dating his soul mate – Laura "Popsy" Mueller. From the time they started dating they were inseparable. After ten years of courtship, they married on April 21, 1955. They raised two children Mike and Lynn as well as countless stray dogs and cats.

Dick and Popsy's favorite part of owning the grocery store was the noontime visits of the high school students. They especially enjoyed getting to know the kids, sharing in their successes and disappointments. It was always special when someone would come up to them years later to share memories of "the store"

In February 2017, Dick moved to the Good Samaritan Home in Albion. Despite his physical limitations he could always recognize a voice or a walk. His wit and memory of names, dates and events amazed everyone who visited him.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents; sister and brother-in-law: Annetta and Bob Lee; sister: Donna Torson; brother: Deryl Michael who died in infancy; brother-in-law and sister-in-law: Herman and Helen Mueller; brother-in-law: Forrest Mueller. He is survived by his wife Popsy; Mike and Diane German of Lincoln; Lynn and Dan Brejcha of Wilber; grandchildren: Lisa and Matt Bilslend; Kyle and Kristine German; great-grandchildren: Harper and Ella German and Rowan Bilslend; brother-in-law: Larry Torson; as well as nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

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