Dick Leslie Miers was born Oct. 17, 1937, in Seward, to Leonard and Hazel Fern (Duffy) Miers and passed away July 27, 2023, in Seward, at the age of 85 years, 9 months and 10 days.
Dick grew up in Seward, where he attended and graduated from Seward High School with the Class of 1955. While in school, he enjoyed playing football. Dick worked at Marten Tire and Supply Company during and after high school. On Dec. 2, 1956, Dick was united in marriage to Della Hans at St. John Lutheran Church, and to this union, three children were born, Katherine, Robert and David.
Dick began working at Seward Motor Freight from 1956 until 1970. He then started Dick Miers Painting, where he painted houses and did wallpapering and woodworking as well. Dick was a handyman and a jack of all trades. He could fix and make anything out of scraps. Dick loved finding bargains and making deals in bartering the price. He enjoyed Louis Lamour books and watching westerns, especially Gunsmoke.
Dick found great joy in helping others any way he could. On May 24, 2023, he was the first former first responder to ever receive a Challenge Token from the First Responders Foundation. Dick served more than 50 years in the Seward Volunteer Fire Department. He was also very involved in the Red Cross, Boy Scouts Seward Troop #256, Seward Jaycees and Kiwanis Club of Seward, especially with the Backpack Program and the Flagpole committee. He was a member of the Seward Train Club and loved sharing his love of trains with his family.
In the last several years, Dick enjoyed working with the Seward Crossmakers. Dick and Della also supported the Seward County Historical Society and Milford Historical Society. He was an avid Nebraska football fan, holding season tickets since 1960. Dick survived a horrible bicycle accident at a young age and he and Della and their three kids survived the 1976 Big Thompson River flood in Colorado. He was a long-time member of St. John Lutheran Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Leonard and Hazel Miers; wife, Della Miers; two brothers and sister-in-law, Dale Miers, Willard and Wanda Miers; sister, Mable Miers; three brothers-in-law, Norman Cross, Ray Landenberger and Richard Hans; and sisters-in-law, Nancy Johnson and Marjorie Junge.
Dick is survived by his three children and their spouses, Katherine Hartmann and husband, Steven, Seward, Robert Miers and wife, Sandy, Seward, and Dr. David Miers and wife, Lanae, Lincoln; 11 grandchildren, Timothy Hartmann and wife, Christine, Benjamin Hartmann, Khristina Hindmand and husband, Jason, Jesse Heyen and wife, Rosalie, Michael Miers and wife, Lexi, Theresa Price, Andrew Alley, Alexis Alley, and Aliscia Stutzman and husband Tanner, McKenzie Miers and Maci Miers; 13 great-grandchildren; sister, Lucille Cross; three sisters-in-law, Judy Landenberger, Diller, Linda Ehrlich and husband, Roy, Seward, and Mildred Miers, Seward; brother-in-law, Delbert Junge, Seward; nieces, nephews and numerous friends.
The funeral service will be Wednesday, Aug. 2, at 10 a.m. At St. John Lutheran Church in Seward with interment at the Seward Cemetery. The Seward Volunteer Fire Department will perform the Last Call. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Seward County or Milford Area Historical Society, Seward Troop #256, American Red Cross or to the Seward Crossmakers. Arrangements by Zabka-Perdue Funeral Home.
