Richard Lewis Schoen was born May 31, 1932, in Fairbury, Nebraska to John and Anna (Ude) Schoen. He grew up on a farm in Gladstone. He was the youngest of their five children. He attended Trinity Lutheran Parochial School outside of Gladstone and graduated from Fairbury High School in 1949.
After High School Richard served in the Army during the Korean War.
Richard was very athletic and he loved playing baseball as a youth, boxing in the Army and golf as an adult. He scored a hole-in-one 3 times and enjoyed league golf for many years. He also enjoyed watching Nebraska Football and Volleyball.
On June 9th, 1962 he married Bonnie Marlene Hill. They made their home in Fairbury until 1981, when the railroad folded up and they moved to Boone, Iowa, where he was employed with Chicago Northwestern Railroad. He eventually transferred to the Scottsbluff area with the railroad. He retired after working 37 years as an engineer.
Richard passed away August 9, 2023, at High Plains Alzheimer’s Special Care Center in Lincoln Nebraska. He was proceeded in death, by his wife of 50 years, Bonnie, his parents, and siblings; Beulah (Louis) Issler and Norma (Frank) Tucker, Marvin (Marge) Schoen and Norris (Shirley) Schoen.
He is survived by his children, Lorinda (Jay) Peters, Lane Junker, Christine (William) Baker and Cathleen (David) Van Winkle. Grandchildren: Spencer Herrstrom, Alicia (Chris) Hayden, Audrey (Jon) Borer, and Grace Briley. 5 Great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Services will be Monday, August 14, 2023 at 11am, at Grace Lutheran Church in Fairbury NE. Memorial will go to the American Legion Post #36 in Gering, NE, where Richard volunteered many hours. Burial will be at the Fairbury Cemetery.