Richard T. Braden

A Mass Of Christian Burial for Richard will be held on Friday, September 9, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Geneva, Nebraska with Father Harlan Waskowiak presiding. Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 8, 2022 from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at Farmer & Son Funeral Home in Geneva, Nebraska. Praying of the Rosary will be held on Thursday, September 8, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Geneva, Nebraska. Graveside Services will be held following the funeral mass in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Geneva, Nebraska. Memorials are to be directed to the St. Joseph Catholic Church or the Alzheimer's Association. Richard Thomas Braden was born to Thomas W. Braden and Elizabeth Ann (Schropfer) Braden on April 16, 1936 on a farm in Stanton Township in Fillmore County, Nebraska. Richard passed away on September 6, 2022 at Ridgewood Rehabilitation & Care Center in Seward, Nebraska at the age of 86. He was one of two children in the family. Richard grew up on a farm west of Geneva and attended an elementary country school. He then attended Geneva High School graduating in 1953. Prior to graduating he started working for Bumgarner Land & Cattle Company in Strang, NE. He continued worked there until 1983, 30-plus years. In the summer of 1952, Richard met Louisa Rose Saatmann of Ohiowa, NE. They were married August 3, 1955 and to them four children were born. Richard and Louisa made their home on a small acreage east of Geneva where they raised hogs, cattle, corn and his kids 4-H livestock projects. In 1969, he bought his first 80-acres near Ohiowa from his in-laws, Chris and Irene Saatmann. On this land, he began growing milo and wheat, then in later years grew corn and soybeans. In 1972, Richard started share-crop farming with his parents on their 80-acre field southwest of Geneva, growing irrigated corn. Eventually he purchased that property. In 1982, Richard and Louisa purchased the Saatmann home place near Ohiowa. In 1984, Richard began working for the Fillmore County Road Maintenance Department as patrol (grader) operator. He retired from the County in 2013. In 1985, Richard and Louisa moved to Grafton, NE. While living here he volunteered with the Fire Department. Due to Louisa’s health issues Richard retired from farming in 1993. He was a hard working person who was a man of his word that people could trust with a hand shake. For the next 29 years he has rented out his properties to a single farm tenant. His whole life, Richard was a devout Catholic and is an honorary life member of the Knights of Columbus. Richard enjoyed many activities including fishing, hunting and playing cards. When his kids were growing up, he was a 4-H club leader. He took his family on vacations to the western half of the United States and Canada. After his children moved away from home, he became a world traveler with trips to the eastern United States, Mexico, Alaska, South America (Brazil), Africa, Europe (France and Germany), and Australia (New Zealand). In his early years, his favorite vacations were to Colorado while he enjoyed Branson Missouri in his later years. Richard was a member of the SYA Antique Tractor Club and after retiring from active farming, he attended auctions. He purchased vintage farm equipment, tools, horse drawn grading equipment, and other miscellaneous farm related antiques. Memorabilia he enjoyed collecting included toy farm tractors/equipment and farm hats. Being a humble man, with talent to design and build several farm related and non-farms projects with excellent craftsmanship. He enjoyed giving his grandchildren and Great-grandchildren rides on his restored Farmall and John Deere Tractors. He resided in York NE from 2003 – 2020 until returning to Geneva as a resident of Heritage Crossings. Richard is preceded in death by his parents and brother Melvin; his wife Louisa; sons-in-law Tom Kamler and Randy Damratowski; grandsons Christopher and Kevin Kamler; granddaughter Elizabeth Ann Braden. He is survived by son Robert (Amy) Braden of Firth, NE; daughters Shirley Kamler of Ohiowa, Barbara Damratowski of Omaha, Theresa Stein of Fremont; 5 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; sister-in-laws, nephews and nieces.

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Richard T. Braden

April 16, 1936 - September 6, 2022