Richard Wayne Whiteman 1936-2023

WHITEMAN, ATHEY, RAVNSBORG

Posted By: Connie Swearingen - volunteer (email)
Date: 6/15/2023 at 13:34:48

Onawa Democrat
17 May 2023

Richard Wayne Whiteman, 86, of Omaha, Nebraska passed away January 1, 2023 in Omaha, Nebraska.

A memorial graveside service will be 11:00 A.M. Saturday, May 27, 2023, at Belvidere Cemetery, Turin, Iowa with Pastor Catie Newman, officiating. Military Honors will be provided by the United States Air Force and the David McNeill American Legion Post #129, Onawa, Iowa. Arrangements are under the direction of Goslar Funeral Home and Monuments, Onawa, Iowa.

Richard Wayne was born August 7, 1936 to William and Grace (Athey) Whiteman. He was born and raised in Fort Madison, Iowa on the Mississippi River. In school, he participated in Boy Scouts, theater and track. During his Scouting years, he attended the 1953 Boy Scout National Jamboree in Irvine Ranch, California. After graduation in 1954, Dick studied at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa for 1-½ years. He joined the Air Force in 1956 and was stationed at Offutt AFB. In January of 1958, he met the love of his life, Patricia Lou Ravnsborg. They were married on July 20th, 1958, in Onawa, Iowa. In 1960, Dick started work at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Omaha. He worked at the Corps for 33 years before his retirement in 1993. After retirement, he worked part-time for FEMA until 2005.

Dick and Pat have two daughters, Pamela Jo and Carolyn Sue, born 1961 and 1962 respectively. Dick loved being a “girl dad”. Dick loved to swim, boat, water ski, and go camping, so he spent many summer weekends camping and boating with his family.

Dick also had a love for cars and trucks. His first car was a Crosley - he loved that little car and told stories about it, up to his last days. In 1958, Dick and Pat purchased their first Ford, a 1955 Sunliner Convertible. Through the years he had a few old cars, a couple of old pickups and an International Travelall. When his daughters began driving, he made sure they had cool cars to drive. He bought Pam a 1969 Mercury Cougar convertible, that he restored. He bought Carolyn a 1966 Ford Bronco that he also restored, adding fancy big wheels and flared out fenders. Next, he needed his own cool car, so he purchased a 1967 green Mustang convertible that he restored.

Dick always needed to be busy. He joined the Masons, Scottish Rite and Shriners. He held various positions in the Masonic Lodge and the Scottish Rite. He was proud to reach his 33rd degree in the Scottish Rite. In the Shriners, he was involved in Vintage Iron, Hospital Float, and Transportation unit. For many years he drove kids from Nebraska to the Shiner’s Hospital in Minneapolis. Dick and Pat were also very active in the Shiner’s camping club. Dick volunteered at the Shrine Bowl and Shrine Circus and spent many an hour driving his little Shriner car or pulling the Hospital float in parades.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia (Ravnsborg); daughter, Pamela (Daniel) Michalak; daughter, Carolyn Martin Gibbs (Douglas) Haller; grandchildren, Wayne (Stephanie) Martin, Alexander and Miranda Michalak; great-grandchildren, Dakota, Oliver, and Lucas Martin; step- grandchildren, Kristen (Enoch) Mensah and Daly Haller; step-great-grandchildren, Hallie, Milana and Hannah Mensah and Creedon Haller; two sisters-in-law, Joyce Whiteman and Georgene Ravnsborg; and serval cousins, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents, William and Grace (Athey) Whiteman; brother, Phillip; wife, Rita Whiteman; brother, Eugene Whiteman; in-laws, Harold and Frances (Reese) Ravnsborg; and brother-in-law, Harold Ravnsborg Jr.

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