Richard L. “Dick” Pokorny, 86, of Burwell passed away on Friday, January 21, 2022, at Tiffany Square Care Center in Grand Island after a battle with cancer.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, January 27, 2022, at the Ord Memorial Chapel. Pastor Tom Burkholder will officiate. Burial will be in the Ord City Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Thursday beginning at 9:30 a.m. until the service time. In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the Ord Volunteer Fire and Rescue Unit or the Morrison Cancer Center of Grand Island and Hastings. Ord Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Richard was born August 26, 1935, to Joe and Eileen (Liberski) Pokorny. Richard was the oldest of 9 children and was born in a sod house north of Burwell. He attended country school through the eighth grade. Due to the large family, he did not go to high school. Richard went to work as a hired man to help support the family, in a few years he was a hired by Alfred Burson of Ord.
Alfred saw potential in Richard and said; “I’m going to help you go to college”. Because Richard never attended or graduated high school, he was required to take and pass the United States Armed Forces Exam to enter college. Richard started studying ministries at Westmar College in Le Mars, Iowa at age 23; working his way through college as a room monitor and at a local bakery. Richard was famous for his Angel Food Cakes and Kolaches. In 1962, while in college, he joined the Fraternal Order of Masons and is still a member today, 60 years later. 1963, he graduated with a degree in Elementary Education. He started teaching in Sheldon, Iowa pursuing his dream of teaching for 18 years; member of NEA-NSEA. While Teaching in October of 1966, Richard was united in marriage to Thelma Shipman. Richard proudly adopted Thelma‘s children, Stephen, Vicky, and Linette. Richard and Thelma added a little sister, Karen Jo to the blended family. Richard‘s true dream was to be a farmer. In 1973, he purchased farm ground in Valley County south of Burwell. Richard continued to teach for eight years at District #32, a one room school and farmed till operation grew, also selling DeKalb seed. He served on the North Loup Public Power and Irrigation District Board.
Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of 55 years, Thelma; daughters, Karen Jo Bredthauer of Grand Island, Linette (Doug) Molczyk of Columbus, and Vicky (Bryan) Gudenrath, of Edmond, OK; a son, Stephen Pokorny of Burwell; grandchildren, Chelsy Shipman, Linsey Gudenrath, Jason (Aimee) Trotter, Caitlin (NJ Jayaramu) Molczyk., and Trenton Molczyk; great-grandchildren, Grayson and Catherine Shipman, Annie, Ellie, and Jennie Trotter; his siblings, Herman Pokorny of Scotia, Dorothy Dexter of Chambers, Ralph and (Diana) Pokorny of Chapel Hill, TN., Foster Pokorny of Kiowa, CO., Elizabeth Little of Omaha, Linda (Randy) Homan of Louisville, Dennis (Karen) Pokorny of Bartlett, and Steve (Susan) Pokorny of Lander, Wyo.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents; and his baby sister, Barbara.
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