Richard "Dick" W. Whiteman

Age 86 - Born August 8,1936 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 20^th, 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 36 years before his retirement in 1996.  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.

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, Brother-in-Law, Harold Ravnsborg Jr.  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 laws, Joyce Whiteman and  Georgene Ravnsborg.

Visitation: Friday 5 - 7 PM with Masonic Service at 7 PM at Roeder Mortuary. Memorial Service: 11 AM Saturday (1/7/2023) at St. Andrews United Methodist Church, 15050 West Maple, Omaha, NE.  Memorials to St. Andrews United Methodist Church or Tangier Shriners.

Roeder Mortuary, Inc. - 108th Street Chapel - 2727 N 108th St - Omaha, NE - 402-496-9000  www.RoederMortuary.com