Charles Ritchie (Ritch) Rundstrom

Charles Ritchie (Ritch) Rundstrom was born in Seward on December 7, 1937, to John C. Rundstrom and Margaret L. (Ritchie) Rundstrom and he grew up in North Platte. Family and flying were the great loves in his life. Flying took him to all the corners of the world and family brought him home to Kearney, Nebraska after every trip. An early attempt at flying in 1951 involved an umbrella, a leap from the fender of a car, and a broken arm, while the ceiling of his boyhood room was covered in a fleet of model airplanes. It was not enough to quench his desire to fly. This obsession with flight led him to the Navy’s Flight Training Program in Pensacola, Florida and he earned his wings in 1960. He was stationed at the San Diego Naval Air Station and went to sea on the USS Lexington in October 1960, flying Grumman E-1Tracer radar planes (which he always called ‘Willie Fudd’s) with VAW 11. While he was stationed in San Diego he met the comely Jacqueline Buchanan, whom he married on February 22, 1963. They spent their early years in the San Francisco area where he was hired on with Pan American in 1966 when he left the Navy after his service ended. He flew out of both the San Francisco and New York Pan Am terminals during his time with the company, which only ended with their dissolution in 1991. He and Jackie lived on both coasts prior to their move to Nebraska, but before they moved out East, their eldest daughter Amy was born in San Francisco in 1968. Eventually Ritch and Jackie split the difference between the coasts and settled in Kearney, Nebraska. He commuted from there to New York City for the remainder of his time with Pan Am, scheduling his flights to allow him 1-2 weeks in each location. Their small family continued to grow, and in 1972 they had a son, Christopher. 1975 brought the last child to the family, Katherine. Kate lives in Lincoln, NE along with two much-loved grandchildren, Clement (18) and Lila (13). Other survivors include his favorite little sister, Joyce Martin (Kearney), and his brother, James (Kearney), as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Jane Stuehm, his brother John, and his son, Christopher. The years of Ritch’s life were filled with love, laughter, unique travel experiences (for work and pleasure), fine food, and we who are left behind would likely agree it was a life well-spent and much enjoyed. Ritch never had an ill word to say about anyone, and he was loved by all who met him. Charles Ritchie (Ritch) Rundstrom, died of a stroke in Kearney on January 10, 2026, at the age 88. Although death comes to us all, he is already missed by those he left behind. Private family services will be held at a later date. Visit www.hlmkfuneral.com to leave a tribute or message of condolence. Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements.

Tributes

Charles Ritchie (Ritch) Rundstrom

December 7, 1937 - January 10, 2026