Randy L. Folkers

Randy Lee Folkers was born January 25, 1953 in Beatrice, NE to Noel (mostly known as “Buster”) and Opal (Bartlett) Folkers.  Randy graduated from Fairbury High School in 1972 where he excelled in athletics. He was a part of the 1972 State Championship Football team and was selected to play in the Shrine Bowl. He also found success in track and field breaking school records and earning a state championship medal.

Randy spent many days during his childhood at the baseball and softball fields at he Fairbury City Park.  His interest and passion for the game began by watching his dad, Buster playing baseball or mens slow pitch softball.

His love of sports continued into high school where he was involved in football, basketball and track.  On the football field, he was known as “Randy the Rabbit” since he was quick on his feet running down the field.

After graduation, Randy started roofing for C & F Roofing (known today as Chappell Roofing).  He spent about 20 some years “looking down on people” from many rooftops.  It was not uncommon to hear Randy brag often about being able to “out shingle” anyone if given the chance.

Randy married Renae Schroeder on March 3, 1984. Fairbury was the place they continued to call home for the next 35 years. Randy worked for several employers throughout his life including C&F Roofing and most recently Fairbury Foods (Westin Packaged Meats).

Many of his evenings were spent playing catcher for the Griffee’s Lounge, men’s slow pitch softball team. He loved the “family connection” that the team members had. Years behind the plate as catcher took a toll on the knees and body. Randy then shared his passion for the game with his two sons, Hunter and TJ by helping coach their summer little league baseball teams.  Once the boys surpassed little league, Randy assisted with his daughter Amie’s summer softball teams.  He spent countless hours sitting on a five-gallon bucket coaching and catching softballs as Amie practiced her pitching skills.

Throughout his kid’s athletic involvement, Randy traveled to wherever they were playing and attended as many games as he could to support them.  He was there to watch Amie throw a softball or shoot a basket, he encouraged Hunter through the cross-country course, and he was there to see T.J. compete at the collegiate football level for Concordia University. Each of them would probably say that Randy always had an opinion after the game or race on what they might want to work on, but there was no doubt he was their biggest fan.

His passion for the outdoors was extraordinary. He loved to fish, hunt, and teach his children and grandchildren to do the same. He also enjoyed golfing, softball, westerns, Husker football, kayaking and tubing down the Little Blue River, having coffee with friends and driving the River Road looking for deer.

As life started to slow down, Randy spent a lot of his spare time fishing at the dam or the family cabin area on the Little Blue river. He also enjoyed deer hunting, golfing, throwing a frisbee for polish horseshoes, floating in the swimming pool in the back yard or having friends over for pasture bowling in the back acre of his home.

The last few years, Randy spent a lot of time driving down the River Road just looking to see if there were any deer standing out in the fields.  In fact, when he left work each and every day, Randy’s routine would be to stop at Maatch’s Express for “something to drink) -- wink wink and head for the River Road, driving about 15 miles per hour to take “the short cut” home.  Pretty sure he has about 100,000 miles on that River Road.

In 2018, Randy got his diagnosis of throat cancer. After completing radiation treatment, he was deemed cancer free a year later.  It was at that time that he decided to slow down from over 20 years of working full time at Fairbury Foods (Westin Packaged Meats) to part time days. Even through his final days, Randy hardly missed a morning coffee with friends or evening drive to check for deer.

Randy was preceded in death by his father Noel Folkers, father-in-law George Schroeder, and brother-in-law Randy Schroeder.

Randy is survived by his wife Renae of 35 years, mother Opal, sister Jan Beu (Rick) and their daughter Tatum, son Hunter (Amber) and their children Mykal, Mykah, Austin, and Skylar, son T.J. (Anne) and their children Collin and Connor, and daughter Amie O'toole (Vince), mother in law Carmen Schroeder,  niece Chelsie Schroeder and nephew Christopher Schroeder.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, 11:00 a.m. at Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home in Fairbury. Attendees are welcome to dress casual. Memorials have been designated to the family's choice.