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Richard Esch Obituary
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Spalding, with the Revs. Don Buhrman and Jim Murphy officiating. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the church with a wake service at 7. Dolce-Scheef Mortuary of Spalding is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Esch was born May 3, 1929, at Spalding to John M. and Rosina (Noe) Esch.
Survivors of the immediate family include his wife, Betty of Spalding; a daughter, Janet Esch of Hastings; two sons and daughters-in-law, Rick and Nancy (McDermott) Esch of Spalding and Jerry and Susan (Weltruski) Esch of Hastings; three sisters, Mildred Davidson of San Diego, Calif., Rosemary Payne of Salt Lake City, and Rita Jorgenson of Grand Junction, Colo.; and a brother, John Esch of Spalding.
Additional survivors include 10 grandchildren, Brett, Justine and Jessica Pfeifer, Anna, Maddie, David and Michelle Esch, Hylee, Christopher and Elizabeth Esch, three great-grandchildren, Tamia, Elizabeth and Destiny Pfeifer.
He was baptized and confirmed at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Spalding and attended school thru the eighth grade at District 17 in Wheeler County. He was raised on the family farm north of Spalding and continued to help his father farm after his brothers entered the service. On June 23, 1960, Dick was united in marriage with Elizabeth A. "Betty" Kaiser at St. Michael's Church in Spalding. The couple made their home on the Esch Farm where Dick was raised. Dick continued farming and raising livestock while they raised their three children Janet, Rick and Jerry. In 1989, they celebrated having the farm in the family for 100 years. Dick and Betty moved to town in 1995, while Dick continued helping his son, Rick on the farm.
In June 2010, Dick and Betty celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Dick was a past member of St. Michael's Parish Council and a former Men's Club Captain for several years. He enjoyed driving his tractors, working the ground and raising his livestock.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents; four sisters, Marie Reuter, Dolores Purdy, Margaret Wiles, Lucille McGann; one brother, Ambrose Esch.
Memorials are suggested to the family. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.levanderfuneralhome.com.
Please sign the guestbook at www.theindependent.com/obits.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Richard Esch
4 Entries
Patrick McGowen
February 14, 2011
Dear Jerry,and family.I was so sad to hear about the passing in you family.I wish you all of God's blessing at this time of loss.
Larry&Mary Jo Seaman
February 14, 2011
Celebrating a life well lived. We will cherish the memories forever.
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