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Richard Schlenker passed away Monday, June 23, 2025 in Fremont, Neb. He was born on December 22, 1934 to Walter and Gladys Schlenker on a farm six miles northwest of Frederick, S.D. After graduating from Frederick High School in 1952, he attended South Dakota State for a year and spent the next year in Seattle working for Boeing. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in October 1954 and spent a year in Japan. After his honorable discharge in July 1956, he spent a year in Chicago, Ill. living with his brother, working at a lumberyard. He went back to South Dakota State in the summer of 1957 and graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering in August 1960. He got a job with the US Army Corps of Engineers and his first assignments were working on the Atlas Missile Silos near Lincoln, Neb., and on Oahe Dam near Pierre, S.D.

Richard married Marlene Hansen on January 14, 1961. His new position with the Corps of Engineers Materials Laboratory moved them to Omaha, Neb. There, he held several positions, including Chief of Soils and the laboratory director. He retired in 1995.

Richard dedicated a lot of his time to restoring and maintaining the old farm they purchased near Kennard in 1969. Much work has been done on the house, buildings, and trees over the years. He also enjoyed woodworking, gardening, and traveling. He had a fondness for horses his entire life.

Richard was involved with Arlington Community Church, American Legion, Washington County Planning Commission, Habitat For Humanity. Omaha Engineers Club, and Nebraska Society of Professional Engineers.

Richard is survived by wife, Marlene Schlenker; daughters, Renee Schlenker of Gladstone, Mo., and Melanie (Brian) Tate of Kennard, Neb.; son, Lowell (Nicki) Schlenker of Ralston, Neb.; grandchildren, Sean (Kaitlyn) Milligan, Heather (Travis) Milligan-Moore, Connor Tate, Logan Tate, Cora Schlenker, Grant Schlenker, and Max Schlenker; great-grandchildren, Danika, Makenzie, Blake, and Lawson.

Preceded in death by his parents, siblings, Raymond, Merlyn, Clarice, Mable, and George.

The Funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, June 30, 2025, at Arlington Community Church in Arlington, Neb. The Visitation will be on Sunday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Reckmeyer-Moser Funeral Home also in Arlington. Interment with military honors will be at the Arlington Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to Arlington Community Church

Reckmeyer-Moser Funeral Home in Arlington 232 W. Eagle St. Arlington, Neb | 402-478-4151

~~~obituary courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska ~~~

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