Richard A. Gudahl, 90, of the Residency Care Center, passed away on Friday, August 19, 2016 at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, surrounded by many family members. Richard was born February 16, 1926, son of Oscar B. and Grace V. (Broyles) Gudahl, in Bordeaux, Wyoming.
He grew up in the Wheatland, Wyoming area, graduating from Wheatland High School in 1944. He entered the Army, becoming a paratrooper, in 1944. Just before being deployed his parachute failed to open during a jump. Richard was severely injured, and spent a long time in the hospital before being discharged and returning home.
He married Aileen Settell on July 19, 1946. They were married 63 years before her passing on August 7, 2009. They had three children, Dan, Linda, and Greg, all born in Casper, Wyoming.
Richard began his working career in Casper as a shoe repairman. He soon found a job with the Bureau of Reclamation as a lineman. He was transferred to the Gering substation in 1950 and the family moved to Gering at that time. Recently, Richard was a resident of the Care Center at the Residency, having lived in the Vista for 7 years.
He was again severely injured at age 47 due to a terrible car accident in May of 1973. He was not able to work again after this incident. His injuries did not stop his spirit. He told the family he always wanted to paint and embarked on many years of producing oil paintings, melted crayon pictures which now grace the homes of his children, grandchildren and many friends. He made his own frames for all his pictures.
He also picked up other hobbies, making lamps from fence posts and barn wood brought to him by his many friends and relatives. These many different shapes and sizes of lamps have also found their way into the homes of relatives and friends.
When blindness put a stop to his painting and lamp projects, he began to collect records of any size or speed. At one time he had a collection of around 14,000 records which he played on old players and recorded onto tapes. Again, these tapes are listened to by relatives and friends.
His creativity and sense of humor never stopped even under limiting disabilities. Richard left a legacy of "never give up" and an example of "strength under whatever circumstances" to his children, grandchildren and friends.
Living alone in his room at the Care Center he not only listened to his many recorded tapes, he said there was nothing else to do, so he began to sing. Friends would find him singing in his room or wheeling himself in the hallways in his wheelchair. Other residents would ask him to sing. He will be remembered for his continuous positive attitude and sense of humor.
He celebrated his 90th birthday in February with an open house attended by around 100 relatives and friends. Richard thoroughly enjoyed this celebration with the opportunity to visit with those who attended.
He is survived by: his three children, Dan (Judy) Gudahl, Linda Smyth, and Greg (Jean) Gudahl; siblings, Don (Leona) Gudahl, Andy (Zola) Gudahl, Gene Gudahl, and Alice Jo (Ken) Parriott; three brothers-in-law Rand (Marlys) Settell, Darrell Settell, and Jim Donahoo; 11 grandchildren; 32 great grandchildren; and 7 great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by: his wife, Aileen; parents; grandson, Aaron Gudahl; son-in-law, Ken Smyth; brothers, Robert and Victor; sister, Marcella "Joyce" Settell.
Memorial service on Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at Central Church of Christ with Brother Andy Gudahl and longtime family friend, Gerald Parriott co-officiating. Military honors provided by the Nebraska National Guard Honor Guard. Cremation will follow the service and he will be laid to rest with his wife at West Lawn Cemetery at a later date.
Obituary information from Gering Funeral Home of Gering, Nebraska.
He grew up in the Wheatland, Wyoming area, graduating from Wheatland High School in 1944. He entered the Army, becoming a paratrooper, in 1944. Just before being deployed his parachute failed to open during a jump. Richard was severely injured, and spent a long time in the hospital before being discharged and returning home.
He married Aileen Settell on July 19, 1946. They were married 63 years before her passing on August 7, 2009. They had three children, Dan, Linda, and Greg, all born in Casper, Wyoming.
Richard began his working career in Casper as a shoe repairman. He soon found a job with the Bureau of Reclamation as a lineman. He was transferred to the Gering substation in 1950 and the family moved to Gering at that time. Recently, Richard was a resident of the Care Center at the Residency, having lived in the Vista for 7 years.
He was again severely injured at age 47 due to a terrible car accident in May of 1973. He was not able to work again after this incident. His injuries did not stop his spirit. He told the family he always wanted to paint and embarked on many years of producing oil paintings, melted crayon pictures which now grace the homes of his children, grandchildren and many friends. He made his own frames for all his pictures.
He also picked up other hobbies, making lamps from fence posts and barn wood brought to him by his many friends and relatives. These many different shapes and sizes of lamps have also found their way into the homes of relatives and friends.
When blindness put a stop to his painting and lamp projects, he began to collect records of any size or speed. At one time he had a collection of around 14,000 records which he played on old players and recorded onto tapes. Again, these tapes are listened to by relatives and friends.
His creativity and sense of humor never stopped even under limiting disabilities. Richard left a legacy of "never give up" and an example of "strength under whatever circumstances" to his children, grandchildren and friends.
Living alone in his room at the Care Center he not only listened to his many recorded tapes, he said there was nothing else to do, so he began to sing. Friends would find him singing in his room or wheeling himself in the hallways in his wheelchair. Other residents would ask him to sing. He will be remembered for his continuous positive attitude and sense of humor.
He celebrated his 90th birthday in February with an open house attended by around 100 relatives and friends. Richard thoroughly enjoyed this celebration with the opportunity to visit with those who attended.
He is survived by: his three children, Dan (Judy) Gudahl, Linda Smyth, and Greg (Jean) Gudahl; siblings, Don (Leona) Gudahl, Andy (Zola) Gudahl, Gene Gudahl, and Alice Jo (Ken) Parriott; three brothers-in-law Rand (Marlys) Settell, Darrell Settell, and Jim Donahoo; 11 grandchildren; 32 great grandchildren; and 7 great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by: his wife, Aileen; parents; grandson, Aaron Gudahl; son-in-law, Ken Smyth; brothers, Robert and Victor; sister, Marcella "Joyce" Settell.
Memorial service on Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at Central Church of Christ with Brother Andy Gudahl and longtime family friend, Gerald Parriott co-officiating. Military honors provided by the Nebraska National Guard Honor Guard. Cremation will follow the service and he will be laid to rest with his wife at West Lawn Cemetery at a later date.
Obituary information from Gering Funeral Home of Gering, Nebraska.
Richard A. Gudahl, 90, of the Residency Care Center, passed away on Friday, August 19, 2016 at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, surrounded by many family members. Richard was born February 16, 1926, son of Oscar B. and Grace V. (Broyles) Gudahl, in Bordeaux, Wyoming.
He grew up in the Wheatland, Wyoming area, graduating from Wheatland High School in 1944. He entered the Army, becoming a paratrooper, in 1944. Just before being deployed his parachute failed to open during a jump. Richard was severely injured, and spent a long time in the hospital before being discharged and returning home.
He married Aileen Settell on July 19, 1946. They were married 63 years before her passing on August 7, 2009. They had three children, Dan, Linda, and Greg, all born in Casper, Wyoming.
Richard began his working career in Casper as a shoe repairman. He soon found a job with the Bureau of Reclamation as a lineman. He was transferred to the Gering substation in 1950 and the family moved to Gering at that time. Recently, Richard was a resident of the Care Center at the Residency, having lived in the Vista for 7 years.
He was again severely injured at age 47 due to a terrible car accident in May of 1973. He was not able to work again after this incident. His injuries did not stop his spirit. He told the family he always wanted to paint and embarked on many years of producing oil paintings, melted crayon pictures which now grace the homes of his children, grandchildren and many friends. He made his own frames for all his pictures.
He also picked up other hobbies, making lamps from fence posts and barn wood brought to him by his many friends and relatives. These many different shapes and sizes of lamps have also found their way into the homes of relatives and friends.
When blindness put a stop to his painting and lamp projects, he began to collect records of any size or speed. At one time he had a collection of around 14,000 records which he played on old players and recorded onto tapes. Again, these tapes are listened to by relatives and friends.
His creativity and sense of humor never stopped even under limiting disabilities. Richard left a legacy of "never give up" and an example of "strength under whatever circumstances" to his children, grandchildren and friends.
Living alone in his room at the Care Center he not only listened to his many recorded tapes, he said there was nothing else to do, so he began to sing. Friends would find him singing in his room or wheeling himself in the hallways in his wheelchair. Other residents would ask him to sing. He will be remembered for his continuous positive attitude and sense of humor.
He celebrated his 90th birthday in February with an open house attended by around 100 relatives and friends. Richard thoroughly enjoyed this celebration with the opportunity to visit with those who attended.
He is survived by: his three children, Dan (Judy) Gudahl, Linda Smyth, and Greg (Jean) Gudahl; siblings, Don (Leona) Gudahl, Andy (Zola) Gudahl, Gene Gudahl, and Alice Jo (Ken) Parriott; three brothers-in-law Rand (Marlys) Settell, Darrell Settell, and Jim Donahoo; 11 grandchildren; 32 great grandchildren; and 7 great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by: his wife, Aileen; parents; grandson, Aaron Gudahl; son-in-law, Ken Smyth; brothers, Robert and Victor; sister, Marcella "Joyce" Settell.
Memorial service on Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at Central Church of Christ with Brother Andy Gudahl and longtime family friend, Gerald Parriott co-officiating. Military honors provided by the Nebraska National Guard Honor Guard. Cremation will follow the service and he will be laid to rest with his wife at West Lawn Cemetery at a later date.
Obituary information from Gering Funeral Home of Gering, Nebraska.
He grew up in the Wheatland, Wyoming area, graduating from Wheatland High School in 1944. He entered the Army, becoming a paratrooper, in 1944. Just before being deployed his parachute failed to open during a jump. Richard was severely injured, and spent a long time in the hospital before being discharged and returning home.
He married Aileen Settell on July 19, 1946. They were married 63 years before her passing on August 7, 2009. They had three children, Dan, Linda, and Greg, all born in Casper, Wyoming.
Richard began his working career in Casper as a shoe repairman. He soon found a job with the Bureau of Reclamation as a lineman. He was transferred to the Gering substation in 1950 and the family moved to Gering at that time. Recently, Richard was a resident of the Care Center at the Residency, having lived in the Vista for 7 years.
He was again severely injured at age 47 due to a terrible car accident in May of 1973. He was not able to work again after this incident. His injuries did not stop his spirit. He told the family he always wanted to paint and embarked on many years of producing oil paintings, melted crayon pictures which now grace the homes of his children, grandchildren and many friends. He made his own frames for all his pictures.
He also picked up other hobbies, making lamps from fence posts and barn wood brought to him by his many friends and relatives. These many different shapes and sizes of lamps have also found their way into the homes of relatives and friends.
When blindness put a stop to his painting and lamp projects, he began to collect records of any size or speed. At one time he had a collection of around 14,000 records which he played on old players and recorded onto tapes. Again, these tapes are listened to by relatives and friends.
His creativity and sense of humor never stopped even under limiting disabilities. Richard left a legacy of "never give up" and an example of "strength under whatever circumstances" to his children, grandchildren and friends.
Living alone in his room at the Care Center he not only listened to his many recorded tapes, he said there was nothing else to do, so he began to sing. Friends would find him singing in his room or wheeling himself in the hallways in his wheelchair. Other residents would ask him to sing. He will be remembered for his continuous positive attitude and sense of humor.
He celebrated his 90th birthday in February with an open house attended by around 100 relatives and friends. Richard thoroughly enjoyed this celebration with the opportunity to visit with those who attended.
He is survived by: his three children, Dan (Judy) Gudahl, Linda Smyth, and Greg (Jean) Gudahl; siblings, Don (Leona) Gudahl, Andy (Zola) Gudahl, Gene Gudahl, and Alice Jo (Ken) Parriott; three brothers-in-law Rand (Marlys) Settell, Darrell Settell, and Jim Donahoo; 11 grandchildren; 32 great grandchildren; and 7 great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by: his wife, Aileen; parents; grandson, Aaron Gudahl; son-in-law, Ken Smyth; brothers, Robert and Victor; sister, Marcella "Joyce" Settell.
Memorial service on Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at Central Church of Christ with Brother Andy Gudahl and longtime family friend, Gerald Parriott co-officiating. Military honors provided by the Nebraska National Guard Honor Guard. Cremation will follow the service and he will be laid to rest with his wife at West Lawn Cemetery at a later date.
Obituary information from Gering Funeral Home of Gering, Nebraska.
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