Richard Penas

Richard J. Penas, age 80, of Columbus, died Friday, November 20, 2020 at the Columbus Community Hospital.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, July 9, 2021, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Ord, Nebraska. The Rosary will be recited at 10:15 a.m. Father Scott Harter will be the Celebrant. Inurnment will be in the Ord Catholic Cemetery.

The generous expression of sympathy and gifts was greatly appreciated at the time of Richard's passing. At this time the family is asking only for your presence at the service.

Richard Penas was born on January 6, 1940, in Ord, Nebraska, to Edward and Agnes (Hruby) Penas. He was raised on the family farm outside of Ord. He attended the Rural Country School in Valley County and then graduated from Ord High School in 1957. He continued his education at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and graduated with his Electrical Engineering degree in 1962.

After his UNL graduation, he worked on the family farm for a little over a year, which is when he met his future wife Linda Vogeler. Rich began his engineering career at Nebraska Public Power System in 1964. After a merger in 1966, N.P.P.S. became Nebraska Public Power District. After a 35-year career with N.P.P.D., he retired as Manager Sub Station Engineer on April 23, 1999.

He joined the United States Army National Guard on November 22, 1963 and served honorably for six years.

Rich and Linda were married on February 27, 1965 in Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ord, Nebraska. Once the newlyweds moved to Columbus, they became members of the St. Anthony Catholic Church. They lived their entire 55-year married life in Columbus, where they raised their five children.

Rich was a quiet, honest man who loved with all his heart and had deep faith. True joy came from being with his family. Family gathered at Rich and Linda's house every Christmas, summer, holidays, and many weekends through the year. Also, in the summers, camping and fishing trips were enjoyed with their children, family and friends and later included grandchildren. Rich was a man of many talents. He could fix anything around his house, helped friends with their home projects and had a collection of tools to support these efforts. He enjoyed woodworking and tinkering in his garage. Rich had a huge garden that stocked his family with fresh produce, which he also shared with the neighbors. Rich cherished the long-time friendships with neighbors and co-workers that included a card club, friends watching out for one another and their children. He enjoyed throwing horseshoes, traveling with friends and family, feeding and watching birds, and was an avid Husker fan cheering on the football and volleyball teams. He was a member of the Hartman Post #84 American Legion and the Knights of Columbus Council #938.

Rich is survived by his wife of 55 years, Linda (Vogeler) Penas; children, Bryan (Maura) Penas, Lincoln, Nebraska, Christine (Keith) Robbins, Rock Hill, South Carolina, Alicia (Michael) Ostermeier, Keller, Texas, Stefan (Ann) Penas, Garland, Nebraska, and Nathan (Angela) Penas, Lincoln, Nebraska; 16 grandchildren, Christopher Penas-Hull, Allison Penas-Hull, Nolan Robbins, Travis Robbins, Andrew Ostermeier, Spencer Ostermeier, Sierra Penas, Logan Penas, Dylan Penas, Ember Penas, Kaleigh Penas, Ashlyn Penas, Wyatt Penas, Natalie Kohmetscher, Madelyn Kohmetscher and William Kohmetscher; sister, Dorothy Ross, Longmont, Colorado; brother-in-law, Bill Vogeler, North Loup, Nebraska; sister-in-law Vicky Johnson, Nicholasville, Kentucky; sister-in-law, Colene (Merlyn) Williams, Atkinson, Nebraska; sister-in-law, Carol (Tom) Holt, Galveston, Texas; brother-in-law, Craig (Nancy) Vogeler, North Loup, Nebraska; special cousin, Mariann Toomey, Aurora, Colorado; and many additional cousins, nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Edward and Agnes (Hruby) Penas; brother and sister-in-law, Edwin (Lois) Penas; brother, Paul Penas; brother-in-law, Fred Ross; brother-in-law, Mike Johnson; sister-in-law, Nancy Vogeler; and nephew, Ryan Vogeler.