Richard L. "Dick" Genrich

1940 - 2025

Richard L. "Dick" Genrich

February 5, 1940 - May 17, 2025

Richard L. "Dick" Genrich, 85, of Beatrice, passed away on Saturday, May 17, 2025. He was born on February 5, 1940, in Gage County to Lee and Helen (Rahe) Genrich. He graduated from Beatrice High School in 1958. He married Kay (Melton) Wilcox on July 13, 1984, where they lovingly blended their family of six kids. Dick served his country on Company C, 134th Infantry Div. of the Nebraska Army National Guard. He was employed by Nebraska Department of (Roads) Transportation for 46 years. He started his career on a Survey Crew and worked his way up to retire as the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Manager and an Assistant Information Technology Division Manager. He attended and made several presentations at 20 Highway Engineering exchange Program (HEEP) Conventions and the same at 18 Geographic Information Systems for Transportation (GIS-T) Symposiums. He served 15 years on the American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials (AASHTO) GIS-T TASK FORCE that was required to host the annual (GIS-T) Symposium at various locations around the United States. Dick won numerous state and national awards for his innovations in GIS/GPS mapping technologies. Two of those are aerial inventory of mapping data and photo logging of the state highway system. He served on two engineering teams that developed the first statewide inventory and ratings of the bridge and railroad crossing. He also moved the manual cartography (mapping) operation to the computer. The accomplishment he was most proud of was his leadership of the digitization of the electronic Nebraska State Highway System that along with the electronic maps provided by his 49 peers across the U.S. are still used by all the ground navigation systems today. He and his peers at that time considered themselves "fathers" of the ground navigation system today.

He was a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Beatrice, Bitting-Norman Post #27 of the American Legion, Beatrice, Posts 11 and 4 of the AMVETS, Beatrice and Lincoln, Beatrice Aerie #531 of the Fraternal Order of Eagles (F.O.E) for years, where he served for years as an officer. He served on various committees of the Nebraska State Aerie, F.O.E. for 10 years and he then served as the State Legislative Officer for 18 years. He was inducted into the State Eagles Hall of Fame in 2006, was awarded the inaugural Nebraska Eagles Past State Presidents Eagle of the Year Award in 2010, and was elected Nebraska State Eagles Father of the Year in 2017. He was elected as the State Chaplin of the State Aerie in 2021. In 2024 the Nebraska State Eagles Past Presidents honored Dick by awarding him the title of Honorary Past State President. Dick also served 16 years as the Legislative Officer for the Nebraska Council of Fraternal, Veterans and Social Societies, Inc. Dick was a Board Member of Legion/Eagles Baseball Inc. for 20+ years during the construction and early development of Christensen Field. He was a loyal Husker and Royals baseball fan but loved all sporting events.

Dick is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Kay; children, James "Jim" Genrich of Beatrice and his son, Jesse (Dana) Genrich of Lincoln; daughter, Kristi (Dr. Corey) Langford and their children, Nicholas, Katelyn, Noah and Lauren all of Bennington; bonus daughters and grandchildren, April Logston of Beatrice and her children, Jacob of Lincoln, Benjamin of Seattle Wash., Reesa Wilcox and special friend, Jake Linderman of Omaha, Brenda Wilcox and children, Derek and Hannah Wilcox all of Beatrice, Tracy (Mike) Hartley of Beatrice and her children, Taylor Jurgens and fiancé, Sabrina Nihsen of Kansas City, Samantha Shew of Beatrice, and Mikki Wilcox and their children, Cole and Gracie of Columbus; sister-in-law, JoAnne Genrich; sister, Beverly Vonasek and husband Maurice "Morrie" of Lincoln; three nephews, Jeff Lisec of Grain Valley, Mich., Aric (Theia) Vonasek of Aledo, Texas, and Justin Vonasek of Lincoln; one aunt, Bert Rahe of Beatrice; sisters-in-law, Sharon Jones and Viola Melton both of St Joseph Mo., Marcia Mathia and husband Craig Wendt of Herington Kan.; brother-in-law, Lewis "Lucky" Melton; and special friend, Lisa Clinton of Caseville Mich.; plus several cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Larry; parents-in-law, Gene and Inez Marshall; uncles and aunts, John and Verna and Herman and Ruby Genrich, Marvin, Harold and Evelyn, Raymond and Arlene, Vernon "Bud" and Mabel, and Lowell Rahe; brothers-in-law, Jim Jones and Dennis (Smokey) Melton.

The Fraternal Order of Eagles Final Tribute to deceased Members/Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 a.m,. on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at the Fox Funeral Home of Beatrice with PWCRP Kelly Davis and PSP Hoyt Williams officiating. Family requests casual attire. Inurnment will be at the Evergreen Home Cemetery with military honors by the Bitting Norman Post #27 of the American Legion of Beatrice and the Nebraska Army National Guard. Cremation has taken place and there will be no viewing. A register book is available for signatures on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers memorials has been established to the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #531 with Kelly Davis in charge. www.foxfuneralhome.net. Arrangements entrusted to Fox Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Beatrice.

Fox Funeral Home & Cremation Services

1116 N. 19th Street

Beatrice, NE 68310

402-223-4096