Richard Arends

Richard "Dick" Arends, 52, died at The Monarch, Lincoln on Saturday, November 11, 2006 after battling Merkel cell neuroendrocrine cancer for five months.  Dick became an inspiration to friends and family who read his weekly e-mail updates about the progress of his cancer treatments and his views about life that were often quite humorous.
Born in Omaha on January 15, 1954 to Raymond and Merlyn(Wittler) Arends of Talmage.  Christened and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Talmage, he spent his young years participating in church and 4-H activities.  Dick graduated from Nemaha Valley High School in Cook.  During the summers, Dick worked with harvesting crews following the wheat from Oklahoma to South Dakota.
In 1977, Dick graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a B.S. in mechanized agriculture.  He was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity where he met his future wife, Deb, at a fraternity function in 1972.  Dick and Deb(Urbanek) were married in 1974 at Immaculate Conception Church at Ulysses.  Their beloved daughter, Kathleen Danielle, was born in Broken Bow in 1985.
While in Broken Bow, Dick was the district manager of Ralston Purina.  He also enjoyed playing softball, hosting and participating in the annual Nebraska one-box pheasant hunt and acting in the community playhouse.  The Arends family moved to Lincoln in 1988 where Dick worked for Master Mix Feeds and the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.  At the time of his death, he was a field representative for the Midwest Messenger, a division of Lee Enterprises, Tekamah.  He loved interacting with his clients and soon became friends.
Dick volunteered with the couples bible study at Clinic With A Heart and served as the AGR, Kappa Chapter, Alumni Board as the property manager for 12 yrs.  He was a member of the Cathedral of the Risen Christ.  Dick was a loyal Husker fan, always seated on the 40-yard line. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, sharing the rewards of his hunting with friends and neighbors.  He shot trap with his brother and friends.  Dick took pride in being able to fix anything.  On a remote Canadian fishing trip, he once repaired a boat motor with a bumper sticker, bubble gum and duct tape.
Dick will be great missed by his family, friends, co-workers and neighbors.  He is survived by his wife, Deb; daughter, Kathleen"Kat", mother, Merlyn Arends; brother, Dave(Connie)Arends of Lincoln; nieces: Kelsey and Darcy Arends of Lincoln; aunt, Arlene Fleischer of Lincoln; uncle, Laverne Wittler of Syracuse; sisters-in-law and spouses: Marcia Bohuslavsky of Brainard; Judy(Lon) Dyer of Lincoln; brothers-in-law and spouses: Jerome(Terri) Urbanek of Ulysses, Greg(Brenda) Urbanek of Shelton; nieces, nephews; godson: Justin Sheets, goddaugther: Jenny Bohuslavsky, the family cat: Miss Marbles.
Preceeded in death by: his father, Raymond,  two brothers: one infant stilborn and brother, Daniel. Grandparents, Richard and Christine Arends and Herman and Freda Wittler.
Memorial Mass: 9:00am Saturday at The Cathedral of the Risen Christ, 35th and Sheridan Blvd.  Services followed by a Celebration of Life reception and brunch for family and friends at Hillcrest Country Club, 8901 O Street from 11am until 1pm.  It was Dicks wish to donate his body for cancer research to the University of Nebraska Medical Center.  Memorials to: Alpha Gamma Rho Kappa Foundation, c/o Will Wittler, 1724 48th Road, Talmage, NE  68448, The Monarch, Eastmont Towers Foundation, 6315 O Street, Lincoln, 68510 or Pheasants Forever.
Condolences may also be made on line to:
www.chermokfuneralhome.com