Richard D. Kuiper

Richard D. Kuiper was born June 1, 1942, in Omaha, Nebraska to parents Carl (Jack) and Roberta Kuiper. The family lived in the Benson area, and he graduated from Benson High in 1960. He had a wonderful group of friends through those years and has kept in touch with many of them. 

After graduation, Dick attended Doane College in Crete, Nebraska for two years, but there were too many cornfields and sloughs around and he spent his time chasing deer and pheasants instead of going to class. After leaving Crete, he moved back to Omaha and started a career with Omaha Public Power Company. His mother, Bert, who was already working at OPPD, “hooked him up”. He always wanted to be outdoors, so he became a LINEMAN (not a LineTech). He worked his way up from Apprentice to Foreman, and he did the work he loved (most of the time –storms excluded) for 36 years.  

While an Apprentice, he proposed to his favorite Benson Bunny, Eileen, who he had been chasing around while in high school. They married in 1964 at Emanuel Lutheran Church. Shortly after they were married, they built a house “out west” at 98^th Avenue and Ohio Street - the “first house in the neighborhood” Dick always said. They ended up living in that house for 58 years. In that house they raised Scott, Vickie and Brad Kuiper and part-time, Mark Lyons. 

Further along in his career, Dick became heavily involved in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). He was super devoted to the IBEW and the Union, always working on “Union Business,” as he would say. Through the years he worked his way through the ranks and was eventually elected President, a role he held for 12 years (4 terms.) One of his proudest accomplishments was being inducted into the IBEW 763 Nebraska State AFL-CIO Labor Leaders Hall of Fame in 2001.

After his retirement at 58 from OPPD, Dick and Eileen traveled the world, visiting Australia, Alaska, China, Italy, Ireland, Holland, Germany, Mexico, Czech Republic and virtually all the National Parks. They “wintered” in Arizona and Texas, where Dick worked on his “unique” golf swing, with a Busch Light ready at the 19^th hole. In their southern home community, Dick soon became the life of the party – and there was always a party! Dick and Eileen made many wonderful friends along the way.

Dick, an Eagle Scout in his youth and eventually a Scoutmaster, was an avid outdoorsman. He cherished his time camping, fishing, and hunting with his family and friends. He brought his grandkids camping and fishing whenever he could. He went to Canada fishing with his kids, grandkids, and in-law kids and grandkids (he wasn’t much help and didn’t catch many fish). While retired, all the kids had moved out of Nebraska. While they were gone, he continued his bi-annual deer and turkey hunting trips to north central Nebraska with his nephew, John Mack, who Scott and Brad believe Dick preferred more than his own kids. Dick went deer hunting every year from 1966 until his health began to fail, around 2016 – 50 years. 

Dick and Eileen recently celebrated their 60^th wedding anniversary, a long and happy union. Dick is survived by his loving wife, Eileen, children, Scott (Elena), Vickie (Maureen), and Brad (Andi), 7 grandchildren, brother Doug (Mary Kay), and numerous family and friends who will miss his mischievous grin, his off-color jokes, and his unrivalled zest for life.

Some stories worth asking about or from Dick are:

• Murder Home
• Trevor and the Candlestick
• Blizzards and Tornadoes—In general
• Tornado in Atkinson
• Scott lost in Snowstorm
• Hunting with wives and in-laws 
• “Hide the Pickle” (calm down! -- it’s a game at Christmas)
• High school buddies 
• OPPD Buddies 
• Texas Winters, Armadillo and Propane?
• Halloween Costumes 
• Brad and his buddies 
• Mack’s chickens laid their first eggs 
• So many others
• 
  

Visitation with Family 5:00 - 7:00 PM Wednesday (3/6/2024) at Roeder Mortuary - 2727 N. 108th St. Omaha, NE.

Memorials to the family for later designation. 

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