Richard "Rich" A. Wilke

Richard “Rich” A. Wilke, 78, of Kearney died Friday, September 21, 2018, at the Kearney Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be on Tuesday, September 25, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Kearney. Pastor Melody Adams will officiate and burial will be at Kearney Cemetery. Visitation will be on Monday, September 24, 2018 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services in Kearney and also 1 hour prior to services on Tuesday at the church. Memorials are suggested to First United Methodist Church, Kearney Tackles Cancer or to Make A Wish. Online condolences may be submitted by visiting www.hlmkfuneral.com. Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services in Kearney are in charge of arrangements. He was born December 22, 1939 in Sargent, NE to Donald and Marjorie (Wellington) Wilke. He grew up in Almeria and attended school in Taylor then moved to Lincoln in 1952 and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1957. On July 17, 1958 he married Jo Ann Watson in Lincoln. Rich owned and operated the Red Wood Bowl in Milford then moved to Geneva in 1965 where he owned and operated the Past Time. In 1968 Rich started working construction for Maury Corporation in Geneva and eventually obtained the title of Vice-President and General Manager. The company was moved to Kearney in 1980. In 1981 Rich established Wilke Contracting Corporation where he was still the owner and President. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Kearney. He enjoyed participating in Drag and Stock Car racing, liked to bowl, golf and fish. He considered obtaining his pilot’s license one of his greatest accomplishments. He and his wife spent their winters in Florence AZ where he liked riding four wheelers in the mountains. He is survived by his wife Jo Ann Wilke of Kearney; sons, Dave Wilke and wife La Nita of Kearney and Mark Wilke and wife Carol of Hot Springs, SD; daughter, Karen Hibberd and husband David of Kearney; grandchildren, Ed Johnson and wife Maggie of San Francisco, Brock Wilke and wife Jodi of Lincoln, Derek Wilke and wife Beth of Grand Island, Cole Wilke of Pleasanton, Carey Altizer of Gibbon, Jesse Johnston of Omaha, Trevor and Trey Hibberd of Kearney; 5 great grandchildren; brother, Robert Wilke of Staplehurst, NE; sisters, Kay Wilke of Sun Lakes, AZ and Debra Seibert of Lincoln; sister-in-law, Diane and husband Leo Heugel of Florence, AZ. Rich is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and nephews and great grandnephew. He was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Amanda Johnson and sister-in-law Delores Wilke.

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Richard "Rich" A. Wilke

December 22, 1939 - September 21, 2018