Obituary for Richard Lane Kvasnicka
Richard Lane Kvasnicka of Oakley, KS passed away peacefully on November 30, 2022 at Logan County Senior Living at the age of 88. He was born on October 31, 1934, on a farm north of Lucas, KS to Charles Everett Kvasnicka and Amelia Keller Kvasnicka.
The Kvasnicka family moved to Colby, KS in 1951 while Richard remained in Luray, KS to graduate with his high school class of 1952. Upon graduation, he moved to Colby where he joined the Army and served as a Specialist 5th Class stationed in Alaska.
Richard joined the Kansas Highway Patrol as a Trooper in 1957 while living in Lawrence, KS. In June of 1959 he married Judith Ann Cleaver in Chanute, KS. Their children Cheryl, Lane and Lynn were born while living in Lawrence. He obtained his pilot’s license in 1961. In 1963 he flew on the KHP aircraft crew where they patrolled the sky and highways over northern Kansas.
The KHP transferred Richard to Oakley in 1964 to train new officers. In 1970 he was employed at Pioneer Feedyard. He was elected Logan County Magistrate Judge in 1993 and served proudly for 12 years.
Upon his retirement in 2004, he continued enjoying gardening, woodworking, motorcycling, and being an avid sports fan supporting the Oakley Plainsmen and his beloved Kansas Jayhawks. Drinking lots of coffee with friends was a favorite as well.
Service to his community included being a member of the Oakley City Council, Library Board and Logan County Fair Board.
Lifelong friendships from his neighborhood and community where invaluable to him.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Amelia; his younger brothers Charles Jr. and Melvin; brother-in-law William Slotterback and a half brother and sister, Farrell and Glenna.
He is survived by his wife Judith of Oakley, KS; daughters, Cheryl Kvasnicka of Phoenix, AZ and Lynn (Chris) Vick of Royce City, TX; son Lane (Sharon) Kvasnicka of Andover, KS; grandsons, Justin Kvasnicka of Fort Collins, CO, Brett (Emily) Kvasnicka of Billings, MT, Tanner Vick of Pittsburgh, KS and Tyler Kvasnicka (girlfriend Stevy Stauffer) of Kansas City, MO; granddaughter Megan (Weston) Cottrell of Royse City, TX; great grandchildren, Calvin, Jackson and Hayley Cottrell; sisters, Charlotte Kvasnicka of Ellsworth, KS and Nancy Slotterback of Des Moines, IA; sister-in-law Holly Hart of Peoria, AZ. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and friends that he loved dearly.
The family will receive friends from 5-7:00 p.m. Friday, March 3, 2023 at the Oakley United Methodist Church. A celebration of life service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 4, 2023, also at the church. Memorials may be made to Logan County Emergency Medical Services or Logan County Rehabilitation and Wellness Center and sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or condolences visit www.baalmannmortuary.com
The Kvasnicka family moved to Colby, KS in 1951 while Richard remained in Luray, KS to graduate with his high school class of 1952. Upon graduation, he moved to Colby where he joined the Army and served as a Specialist 5th Class stationed in Alaska.
Richard joined the Kansas Highway Patrol as a Trooper in 1957 while living in Lawrence, KS. In June of 1959 he married Judith Ann Cleaver in Chanute, KS. Their children Cheryl, Lane and Lynn were born while living in Lawrence. He obtained his pilot’s license in 1961. In 1963 he flew on the KHP aircraft crew where they patrolled the sky and highways over northern Kansas.
The KHP transferred Richard to Oakley in 1964 to train new officers. In 1970 he was employed at Pioneer Feedyard. He was elected Logan County Magistrate Judge in 1993 and served proudly for 12 years.
Upon his retirement in 2004, he continued enjoying gardening, woodworking, motorcycling, and being an avid sports fan supporting the Oakley Plainsmen and his beloved Kansas Jayhawks. Drinking lots of coffee with friends was a favorite as well.
Service to his community included being a member of the Oakley City Council, Library Board and Logan County Fair Board.
Lifelong friendships from his neighborhood and community where invaluable to him.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Amelia; his younger brothers Charles Jr. and Melvin; brother-in-law William Slotterback and a half brother and sister, Farrell and Glenna.
He is survived by his wife Judith of Oakley, KS; daughters, Cheryl Kvasnicka of Phoenix, AZ and Lynn (Chris) Vick of Royce City, TX; son Lane (Sharon) Kvasnicka of Andover, KS; grandsons, Justin Kvasnicka of Fort Collins, CO, Brett (Emily) Kvasnicka of Billings, MT, Tanner Vick of Pittsburgh, KS and Tyler Kvasnicka (girlfriend Stevy Stauffer) of Kansas City, MO; granddaughter Megan (Weston) Cottrell of Royse City, TX; great grandchildren, Calvin, Jackson and Hayley Cottrell; sisters, Charlotte Kvasnicka of Ellsworth, KS and Nancy Slotterback of Des Moines, IA; sister-in-law Holly Hart of Peoria, AZ. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and friends that he loved dearly.
The family will receive friends from 5-7:00 p.m. Friday, March 3, 2023 at the Oakley United Methodist Church. A celebration of life service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 4, 2023, also at the church. Memorials may be made to Logan County Emergency Medical Services or Logan County Rehabilitation and Wellness Center and sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or condolences visit www.baalmannmortuary.com