Richard "Dick" Osterhaus (1941-2025)

Dick was a loyal member of the Jay Husker Auto Club.  He is a lifetime member in memorium. Rest in peace our friend.

Dick was born on November 8, 1941, in St. Benedict, Kansas to Henry and Frances (Holthaus) Osterhaus.  Dick graduated from St. Mary's Catholic School in St. Benedict.  He served his country in the U.S. Army and National Guard before working in the grain business.   He married Mary Kay Wassenberg on October 30, 1965, at St. Gregory's Catholic Church in Marysville KS. They moved to Dewitt and Dick went to coop management school and became a grain elevator manager working in Firth, Phillipsburg, KS and La Crosse, KS.  He loved to do community work.  While in Dewitt, he was mayor and worked closely with Governor Kerry to start the NRD dams west of DeWitt.  He was instrumental in building a new feed mill and new church in Phillipsburg, and a new office with a large truck scale while in La Crosse, serving on several committees and boards.  Dick was a past member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Wilber where he was a charter member of the Knights of Columbus. Dick and Mary Kay moved to Beatrice in 2003 and became members of St. Joseph Catholic Church.  He enjoyed refinishing old cars, tractors, taking up residential wiring, refinishing old houses and had a natural ability to invent or make parts for old cars.  He attended men's coffee group every morning and sometimes in the afternoon.  He belonged to car clubs and went to many car shows, winning many trophies.

With solemn reverence, we commemorate Richard Osterhaus of Beatrice, Nebraska, whose life came to an end on September 20, 2025 at the age of 83, leaving behind cherished memories. He was predeceased by: his parents, Henry Osterhaus and Frances Osterhaus (Holthaus); his siblings, Delores Brucken (Hap), JoAnn Sandman, Immaculata Osterhaus, Eddie, Hank, Marvin (JoAnn) and Robert; and his brother-in-law Don Eisenbarth. He is survived by: his wife Mary Kay; his children, Patty Osterhaus of Lincoln and Jon Osterhaus (Leanna) of Firth; his grandchildren, Matt Osterhaus, Dylan Osterhaus (Chloe), Kate Osterhaus and Cooper Osterhaus; his siblings, Mildred Eisenbarth of Onega, Sharon Broxterman (Dick) of Sabetha, Jeanette Koch (Elmer) of Kansas City, Missouri, Jerry (Judy) of Seneca and Dennis (Kathy) of Sabetha, Kansas; and his siblings-in-law, Bernadette Taylor (Dan) of Omaha, Zita Osterhaus of Summerfield, Kansas, Jim Wassenberg (Lou) of Marysville and Gus Sandman of Blue Rapids, Kansas. He is also survived by 4 great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews.