Richard Lee Bryan

Memorial services for Richard Lee Bryan, 88, Lawrence, will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 6, 2023, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lawrence, KS with a visitation starting at 9:00 a.m.  Richard passed away on Thursday, June 29, 2023, at LMH Health.

Richard is survived by his children, Pamela (Larry) Leinwetter, Nancy (Robert) Peterson, and Diana Beitz, step-children Stacey (Chris) Reasoner, Bret (Chelly) Sumner, grandkids, Lee Leinwetter, Bryan (Melanie) Leinwetter, Laura Leinwetter, Robert Peterson, Kaya Beitz, Joe and Abby Reasoner, Zac Sumner, great-grandkids, Anderson, Adri, Cade, Evelyn, Margo and Louie Leinwetter, sister-in-law, Donna Romstedt, many nieces and nephews, and his canine companion, Cher.

Richard was born on January 29, 1935, in Pomona, KS, the eighth and final child of Frank Eben and Elma Nina (Rhodes) Bryan.  He married Doris Romstedt October 9, 1952. Richard was preceded in death by his parents and wife Doris, son-in-law, Steve Beitz, brothers and sister-in-laws, Paul, Harold (Dorothy), Bill (Retta), Bob (Wanda), Lawrence (Nadine) Bryan, sisters, Jean (Calvin) Collins, and Ada (Elmer) Torneden, brother-in-law Jack Romstedt, and sister-in-law Eloise (Bob) Whitacre, as well as many pets, including Tommy and BC.

Richard spent most of his childhood in Ottawa, Kansas, but lived in Oxnard, California for a short time. He attended Ottawa, Kansas schools and graduated from Ottawa High.  In 7th grade math class he looked across the room and saw the cutest red haired girl, named Doris Romstedt.  It took him a couple of years to bring his dating game up to snuff but he finally asked Doris out and that was it! Richard and Doris married on October 9, 1952. Together they built a loving home, and raised three daughters. They doted on their grandchildren and great grandchildren.  They were together until Doris died March 10, 2010.

Richard entered the US Army in August 1954 and was discharged in July 1956. He was a tank supply clerk in the 124th Armoured Ordinance Division. He was stationed in Mainz, Germany just about 500 yards from the Russians.  Upon discharge Richard attended Ottawa University on the GI Bill. He graduated in 1960 with degrees in Economics and Business.

After college graduation, Richard worked at Firestone Tires for a short time.  He then went into business with his brother Bob framing houses and hanging garage doors.  In 1963, he went to work at the IRS where he worked for 28 years until retirement in 1992.  Richard made many friendships at the IRS that lasted a lifetime. 

Richard was a gifted storyteller, who especially enjoyed sharing stories about growing up in Ottawa.  Family members like to say Richard was fluent in speaking Ottawanian. He even had a story about the day he was born.  According to Richard, he was born at home. The local doctor who delivered him told his parents there would be no charge if they would tell his wife the baby was born on Tuesday. He had stories about the Ottawa blacksmith, bootleggers, pool halls, the Marais Des Cygnes River, and many more topics.  Richard told his final story the morning he died, this last one about how big the fish he caught a couple of weeks before was.

Richard was a lifelong learner with a great love of books.  Richard was an avid reader and usually was reading two or three books at a time.  His favorite genre was nonfiction about US military battles.  He spent years collecting genealogy data and wrote an extensive history of the Bryan, Rhodes, and Romstedt families. Richard was a talented wood carver, and leaves behind many treasured pieces.  He was also an accomplished cook. His specialties were homemade ice cream, barbecue chicken, sourdough pancakes, ice cream floats and anything off the grill. 

One of Ricard’s most endearing characteristics was his loyalty and love of family and friends.  He made and kept friends for life.  His longest friendship lasted 83 years, starting when he met Homer Kramer in kindergarten. Richard and Homer made a weekly trip to the Hollywood Casino in Kansas City for years, where they always broke even! Richard treasured all of his many friends and considered them family.

After Doris passed away Richard volunteered at Lawrence Memorial Hospital for more than 10 years pushing patients in wheelchairs.  He especially enjoyed pushing new mothers and their babies out to their cars.  While volunteering at LMH Richard met Kathy Sumner. 

Richard and Kathy met in 2019. Richard liked to say he noticed Kathy because she had a great personality and was really cute! They soon became inseparable. On November 5, 2022 Richard and Kathy were married at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lawrence, Kansas.  Kathy and her dog Cher fit right into the Bryan family.  Richard and Kathy had four fun, happy years together. They traveled extensively, cheered for the Jayhawks and Chiefs, and cherished time with family and friends.  

Richard loved his family deeply, and was deeply loved in return by his family. He frequently said he felt very fortunate to have found two great loves, Doris and Kathy.  Some of Richard’s final words sum up the man.  He told Kathy that in the end, all that really matters is love and family. 

The family suggests memorials OK in Richard’s name to LMH Health or Trinity Lutheran Church, or charity of your choice, and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.

For more information or to post a condolence go to warrenmcelwain.com.