Richard D Sack

Richard D. Sack Funeral Services will be Wednesday, May 28 at 10:30 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 701 Chicago Avenue, Plattsmouth, with interment to follow at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery. Visitation will be on Tuesday, May 27th from 1:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. with family greeting friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.  ------------------------------------------------------ “. . . He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 1:6   God began a good work in Richard Sack on September 14, 1928 when he was born to Reuel and Lillian (Spangler) Sack in rural Mynard, Nebraska. Richard attended Little Brick country school and Plattsmouth High School before earning a Regent’s Scholarship to attend the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. During his school years, Richard enjoyed playing baseball, helping his father on the family farm, participating in 4-H, and serving as class president in high school. He was also active in the Christian Youth Fellowship, and was elected Nebraska State Youth president. After completing his Associate’s Degree in Animal Husbandry at the University, he returned to Cass County to farm with his father. Richard’s studies centered on genetics, and he focused his attention on breeding registered Duroc swine and Polled Hereford cattle as well as raising certified soybean seeds. His farming career was interrupted briefly when he was drafted into the military. He served our country from 1951 to 1953 in the U.S. Army Signal Corps both here in the States and abroad in post-World War II Germany. After being honorably discharged from the Army, Richard returned once again to his beloved farming, and married the love of his life, Ruth Ann Sporer. The couple built a marriage and a family as they welcomed daughters Ellen and Anna to their farm north of Murray. Several lean farming years caused Richard to seek employment away from the farm. He accepted an opportunity to prepare income taxes for clients of the State Bank of Table Rock in Table Rock, Nebraska. Soon he was providing tax and other financial services to clients all over southeast Nebraska. In the early 1980s he and Ruth added real estate sales to their business services, specializing in farm sales. He continued consulting with business clients until his retirement in 2004. Throughout his life Richard served others. He was active on parent committees, the Parent Teacher Association, and the school board of Murray Public School. His passion for the welfare of children motivated him to serve on the Board of Directors for Omaha’s Child Saving Institute. Originally an orphanage and an adoption agency, the Institute has expanded to be a multi-service agency in Omaha meeting a variety of needs for the families it serves. Richard’s love for God’s Church was lived out on the local, state, and national level. As a deacon and then elder of the church, he led the state Christian Men’s Fellowship (CMF) as president and the national CMF as vice-president. He also served on the board of the Cotner School of Religion. Later he would serve as an elder at the First Presbyterian Church in Plattsmouth. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Ruth Ann (Sporer) Sack; daughters and sons-in-law Ellen and Ron Nealeigh of Norfolk, Nebraska, and Anna and Gary Plank of Lincoln, Nebraska; grandchildren Matthew and Kellie Nealeigh, Mark and Joy Nealeigh, Amy Nealeigh, Katrina Plank, Emily Nealeigh, and Brian and Jordan Plank; great-granddaughter Elizabeth Nealeigh; brother and sister-in-law Clayton and Bea Sack; sister-in-law Lois Minford; and many other loving family and friends. In honor of a life of service, Richard’s family suggests memorials to Plattsmouth First Presbyterian Church or Child Saving Institute of Omaha. On a recent Father’s Day, Richard was asked what he thought Jesus would say to him when he got to heaven. Although the Alzheimer’s Disease he suffered from caused him to struggle to put words together, he brightened up, smiled, and said, “He’s going to say, ‘You’ve been my buddy!” God completed His good work in Richard on May 24, 2014 when He took him to his heavenly home for eternity. Today Jesus is fellowshipping with his buddy, Richard, and welcomed him to his eternal home with the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant! . . . Come and share your Master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21 NIV)