Richard J.

Sunderman

Richard J.

Sunderman

Chambers — Richard John Sunderman, 89, of Chambers, died Sunday, April 10, 2022 at Bergan-Mercy Hospital in Omaha.

Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Friday, April 15, 2022 at Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill with a 7 p.m. prayer service.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 16, 2022 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Chambers. Rev. Leif Hasskarl will officiate.

Burial will be in the Chambers Cemetery in Chambers with military rites provided by the Chambers American Legion Post 320.

Memorials may be made to the family for future designation.

Richard was born on Aug. 7, 1932 in Madison, to Emil and Ella (Maurer) Sunderman. He attended District 35 in Madison County for first through fourth grade, St John's Lutheran school for fifth and sixth grade and Trinity Lutheran for seventh and eighth grade. Richard graduated from Madison High in 1950. He was president of the senior class and was actively involved in football and track.

Rich served our country in the U.S. Navy from 1952-1956. He was stationed in San Diego, CA; Norman, OK and Brunswick, GA at Glynco Naval Air Station where he was a structural mechanic and received the Good Conduct Award. He continued to serve in the inactive reserves from 1956 - 1960.

He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church since 1956. He held various offices on the church council over the years. He served on the Chambers School Board from 1964 - 1978 and served as the treasurer of the Rural Fire Board from 1972-2004. He was also a member of Chambers American Legion Post 320.

Rich was patient, loyal, honest and a true Christian family man. He enjoyed farming, ranching, fishing, local high school sports, ice cream, attending grandchildren's events, playing cards with family and friends, wood working and did we mention, ice cream. Rich loved a good joke and kept his sense of humor to the very end.

Rich met Shirley Bartak on a blind date in 1951 and they were married June 29, 1953 at Ewing Presbyterian Church. Together they had four children. 

In 1956, Rich and Shirley established their home on the farm in Chambers. Here they raised their family, and he was able to share his love of farming and ranching with his family for 52 years. He moved off the farm in 2008 and moved into Chambers. This past May, they moved to The Evergreen Assisted Living in O'Neill where Shirley will continue to live.

Rich is survived by his wife of 69 years Shirley Sunderman of O'Neill; four children Taryn (John) Bellar of Omaha, Michael (Cathy) Sunderman of Norfolk, Nancy Tomjack of Chambers and Gayle (Rick) Geier of Omaha; 14 grandchildren Brandon (Kelly) Borgmann, Derrick (Avna) Borgmann, Melanie (Kevin) Cross, Jay Borgmann, Jennifer (Brandon) Dickison, Nicole (Matt) Baker, Michael Bellar, Jacob (fiancée, Rachel) Sunderman, Collin (Shantell) Gaughenbaugh, Chase Gaughenbaugh, Chris (Michelle) Tomjack, Kylee (Will) Beins, Riley Geier and Max Geier; 22 great-grandchildren; and numerous extended family members and friends.

He was preceded in death and welcomed into heaven by his parents, two sons- in-law Joseph Borgmann and Lee Tomjack, one grandson Ben Sunderman, one sister Emogene (Harold) Schmidt, and two brothers Bud (Dona)Sunderman and Don (Jean) Sunderman.                                   15

____________