Richard Ross Williams

Richard Ross Williams, better known as "Rick the Car Guy" and more recently as "Rick the Grateful Guy," peacefully passed in the early hours of June 22, 2026, just as the sun was coming up.

Born in Sioux City, Iowa on April 11th 1954 and calling Weeping Water, Nebraska home, Rick lived enough life for several people. In his own words, he spent the first half of his life being selfish and the second half becoming the most grateful man you'd ever meet. If gratitude were an Olympic sport, Rick was convinced he'd at least be standing on the podium.

Rick is survived by his beloved wife, Heidi Williams; his children and spouses (that he knows of – a joke he often made), Jeremy Williams, Ricki Williams, Brandon Williams, Sarah and Matthew Wofford, Michael and Bailey Williams, Hannah Williams, Seth and Meghan Williams, and Sadie and Mike Winn.

He also leaves behind a growing army of grandchildren: Cody Williams, Alex (Allie Mae) Matheson, Braxton Williams, Jewells Williams, Miralynn Williams, Ryan Williams, Dawson Williams, Ayoni Williams, Octavia Williams, Oliver Williams, Adeline Bearry, Cadence King, Theodore Wofford, and Emersyn Williams; one great-grandchild, Rylie-Page; Sisters Lynn Anderson and Kathy and Steve Koch; brother and sister-in-law Eric and Xiaolei Wheelock; James and Stephanie Wheelock; and Sarah Wheelock. And many nieces and nephews.

Rick was preceded in death by his parents, Doris Darlene (Ross) Williams and Howard Williams.

For over 40 years, Rick sold cars. For the last 26 years, he did so with Woodhouse Auto Family, where he built friendships. His motto was "fair and friendly service with no pressure," and he meant it. He didn't see customers - he saw friends he hadn't met yet.

Rick believed relationships were life's greatest investment. In his notes app were more than ten lists showing how one friendship turned into ten, ten turned into fifty, and fifty turned into hundreds. One person would introduce another, who introduced another, until Rick somehow knew half the Midwest and then some. It wasn't networking to him - it was loving people.

Anyone who spent more than five minutes with Rick probably heard at least one of his famous life lessons:

"There is only one way to apologize: 'I am sorry. I was wrong. Please forgive me.'"

Not eight words. Not ten words. And definitely don't add an explanation afterward.

He also believed:

"Not everyone is going to like you, and that's okay. Don't change."

"When you make a mistake, learn from it. You're okay."

And perhaps his most practical advice:

"Life isn't fair. Get used to it."

Rick wasn't interested in pretending to be perfect. In fact, most of his greatest lessons came from his own mistakes. He shared them freely because he wanted others to avoid some of the potholes he'd already driven through.

The truth is, anyone who knew Rick became part of his story, his testimony, and held a permanent place in his heart. Whether you bought a car from him, worked with him, sat across from him at a meeting, shared a meal with him, or simply crossed paths for a moment, chances are he remembered your name, your story, your testimony, your children’s names, and probably your dog's name too.

Visitation will be held Sunday, June 28, 2026, at 3:00 – 5:00p.m. at Roeder Mortuary, 2727 N. 108th Street, Omaha, Nebraska, with family present.

Funeral services will be held Monday, June 29, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Roeder Mortuary, with burial to follow at Flower Hill Cemetery.

In keeping with Rick’s wishes, guests are encouraged to wear something he would have loved - bright, colorful, fun, and uniquely you.

In lieu of flowers, Rick would prefer that you call someone you haven't talked to in a while, make amends with someone you've wronged, share your testimony with everyone, and help a friend in need.

Rick's final lesson may be the same one he spent years teaching: Be grateful. Love people. Admit when you're wrong. And don't worry so much about what everyone thinks. It’s not an apology if there is a “but”.

We'll miss him terribly, but we have a feeling he's already introducing himself to EVERYBODY up there.