Richard "Rich" L. Weers

Richard Lee Weers was born February 16, 1939, in Fairbury, Nebraska, to William T. and Faye (Lucille) Weers. He was baptized and confirmed in the Diller Congregational Church; later becoming a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Diller and then Zion Lutheran Church of Harbine.

Rich spent most of his life living on the family farm near Diller. He started his own Angus herd with a Black Angus heifer, which was a 4-H project in 1953. This one heifer grew into an Angus cow herd of over 300 cows. As a young man he left home to work with a combine crew that traveled north with the wheat harvest. Tobias Fritzen and Rich became partners of a combine harvesting business traveling from Oklahoma to North Dakota. He always said he was on vacation when he was in his combine harvesting.

He married Shirleen Fritzen in August of 1965. She passed away in 1972. On August 16, 1975, Richard and Judy Gunther were married. They became the parents of Shawn and Steven. He was a loving husband and father.

Rich served his country in the Army Reserves for 10 years and was active in the Diller American Legion. He enjoyed working on the Jefferson County Fair Board, Farmer’s Coop Elevator Board, and Blue Valley Beef Revue. He was a long time member of the American Angus Association and Nebraska Angus Association. doing his part for Nebraska Angus Board for many years and serving as president in 1982-1983. He was a member of the Diller Cemetery Board for over 30 years.

Rich enjoyed going to Diller or Harbine for coffee with his many friends and family members. He and Judy loved getting in his pickup and going to the different pastures to check on their cows and calves. He had a special relationship with Ben Larkins, who he said was like a third son. His six grandchildren brought him much enjoyment. They all enjoyed rides in the tractor or combine with papa. He enjoyed working at the Fairbury Sale Barn and driving a silage truck. To him there was nothing better than a good nap in front of the TV--but only when the work was done..

Richard, 73,was called home to be with his Lord on Feb. 18, 2012, after a short battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife Judy; sons Shawn and fiancée Lestie Todd, of Diller; and Steven of Lincoln; grandchildren Marquis, Isaiah and Spencer of Diller and Michael, Vanessa and Rose of Lincoln; brother Darrel and Nancy Weers of Lincoln, sisters Shirley Lewis of Lincoln, and Carol Benzel of Byhalia, MS, father-in- law Tobias Fritzen of Diller; his sisters-in laws Susan and Bob Bauer of Fairbury, Nancy and Larry Etmund of Martell; brother-in-laws Henry and Jan Gunther, Marion and Sheryln Fritzen all of Diller, and Roger and Terri Fritzen of Cortland; special friend Ben and Megan Larkins of Fairbury; many nieces and nephews, cousins and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his first wife, his parents, and daughter-in-law Melissa Weers.

Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012, at Zion Lutheran Church of Harbine with Pastor Mark Schlamann officiating. Family prayer service will be held at 1:15p.m. at the church. Burial will be in the Diller Prairie Home Cemetery with a military service by Diller Post 282. The family will greet friends on Tuesday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home in Fairbury, with a prayer service being held at 7:00 p.m.