February 11, 2026
Richard “Rich” Roesener was a small-town guy with a big heart.
The 83-year-old loved his community of Cook, Nebraska, and did his part to make sure it was a place others would enjoy, too.
“Dad was very giving of his time,” said Rich’s daughter Roxane Schiebur. “He knew that if he wanted stuff to happen in the community, he needed to be involved.”
Rich was a member of the American Legion Post #360. He loved sharing stories and connecting with people. He also used his voice as a member of Grace Lutheran Church’s choir and sang in the town’s annual Christmas cantata and melodrama. Rich proudly served on the Johnson County Hospital Board for 24 years. He was passionate about ensuring Johnson County residents had quality healthcare close to home.
Rich enjoyed an active life with his family. He and his wife, Joyce, were married for 60 years. Rich was a devoted grandfather who you would often find in the bleachers at softball and volleyball games, swim meets and other school activities. He also fished with his grandkids and passed his love of antique John Deere tractors on to them, too.
Rich passed away in December and gave the gift of life through tissue donation. He will help dozens of recipients heal from burns and fractures, have the opportunity to walk without pain, regain confidence after breast cancer, and more.
“Dad was all about having a purpose,” said Roxane. “We knew that he would want to continue serving a purpose through donation. He would be proud to know that he helped others. We know that we are honoring him through his donation.”