Richard H. Kujath

Richard Harm Kujath was born February 28, 1943 in Fairbury, Nebraska, as the sound of "Heavenly Sunshine" carried from the church across from the hospital. He was the third child of Herbert and Tillie Meyer Kujath. He left this life peacefully on March 26, 2021, at Fairbury, Nebraska.

Dick was raised on farms in Jefferson and Gage counties. He received his education in the rural schools of Jefferson County through eighth grade, and graduated from Beatrice High School in 1960. He attended Fairbury Junior College for one year, then attended LIFE Bible College in Los Angeles, where he graduated in 1965 with a major in theology. He often joked that in grade school he was the smartest kid in his grade, because he was the only kid in his grade.

While he was attending college he met Joyce Lay, and they were married August 24, 1963 in Prescott, AZ. They lived in the Los Angeles area for a number of years, then returned to Nebraska to start their family, having daughters Kristin and Karyn, five grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter. Their marriage of 57 years was truly blessed.

During his school years he was employed by Umphenour's Market and Pioneer Market, and also hauled cream for a dairy. After returning to Nebraska in 1967, he spent the rest of his working years driving semis for Cannings, All Ways Freight Lines, and Westin Foods, and was proud of his accident-free driving record. He spent his boyhood and much of his adult life helping on the family farm, and driving grain trucks for friends.

Dick used his spiritual training to share the Gospel where he could. He had served as assistant pastor in California, assistant at the Foursquare Church in Fairbury, Sunday school teacher, spiritual leader and mentor, and served as a fill-in speaker at Presbyterian churches in the Fairbury area. He and Joyce were members of the Christ Community Church of Beatrice.

Dick was always a farmer at heart. From his boyhood milking cows and farming for family and neighbors, to continuing to care for the cattle and farm after his father's death, to the huge garden he planted every year (with perfectly straight rows), and to his herds and flocks of miniature donkeys, chickens, ducks, geese, and cats. He loved the animals and land, but hated the cedar trees. He made certain his grandchildren all learned the finer points of farming such as how to build, walk, and fix a fence, haul hay, hate badgers, as well as how to cut down a tree using only a gun, rope, and truck. He also taught them the silly songs he and his father would sing while milking cows, while instilling in them lessons of spiritual matters and a good work ethic.

Sports were also an important past time for much of his life. He played football, baseball, and track in high school and college. For many years he played city league volleyball, and pitched for various church and city league softball teams, and is rumored to be the oldest person to hit a home run at the Fairbury fields. He then umpired for a number of years, including a bit of umping from the bleachers at the grandkids' games. He always found a game to watch on TV, and never missed a Royals or Huskers game. When he could no longer play sports, he began attending auctions, and made bidding wars into a sport. He was a voracious reader and kept the local librarians busy finding him new books. He was an avid hunter most of his life of pheasant, quail, deer, rabbits, and a few elk, although last fall he preferred to sit in his tree stand and tell the deer they could live another day.

Dick will be remembered not only for his work ethic and love of God and family, but for his sense of humor, always having a joke or odd-ball phrase at the ready.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Robert Kujath; sister, Beverly George; brother-in-law, Bill George; sister-in-law, Eileen Lay.

He is survived by his wife, Joyce; daughters Kristin (Jed) Vaughn; Karyn Doehring; grandchildren, Joslyn (Thaddaeus) Immink, Grayson Vaughn, Megg Vaughn, Morgan (Brogan) Dredge, Ian Doehring; great-granddaughter, Ella Bartels; uncle, John (Pat) Meyer; sister-in-law, Eleanor Kujath;  brother-in-law, John (Donna) Lay; many nephews, nieces, and cousins; and his faithful companions Joe, Morris, and Pete.

Services will be held Wednesday, March 31, 1:30 p.m. at the Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home. Burial immediately following at the Zion Countryside Church Cemetery near Gladstone. A short reception will follow at the church fellowship hall.