Richard W. Chicklas

Richard Weston Chicklas, age 87 of Laurel, Nebraska and formerly of Crofton, NE died on Monday, September 30, 2024 at the Hillcrest Care Center in Laurel.

A private burial will occur at the Hartington City Cemetery in Hartington, NE.  The family will be having a Celebration of Richard's life on a future date in Michigan.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home in Hartington.

Richard W Chicklas (birthname was Richard Frank Cichowlas) was born in Detroit MI May 9, 1937 to Helen (Ode) Cichowlas and Edwin Cichowlas. He has two younger siblings, Ronald Edwin Cichowlas of Royal Oak MI married to Janis (Elmslie) Cichowlas; and Janice Arlene Cichowlas of St George UT married to George Litas. Richard was married to Joyce Mitten on January 8,2013 in Randolph, NE. Joyce pre-deceased Richard on March 20, 2016.

Richard was affectionately called “Unks” by his nieces and nephews. The children of sister Janice include -- Chelsea (Rowe) Marshall married to Derek Marshall with their children Olivia, Camden and Carter; Kylie Rowe engaged to Jordan Davis with their children Emma and Dean; Nathan Rowe to Benazir (Kerimbaeva) Rowe with their children Daniel and Robert; Mitchell Rowe; and bonus children of Janice’s husband George –Alex Litas ,and Christine Litas married to Marc Johnson. The children of brother Ronald include Scott Cichowlas and Craig Cichowlas.

The family has fond memories of playing the favorite family game of Pinochle with Unks. One time, Unks bought the family life-sized mechanical parrots that could record the conversations during the many card games, and the parrots would speak back random sentences from the family. Everyone had a great laugh over that!

Unks loved the Chicago White Sox baseball team. Once Chelsea and Derek joined him for a perfect game at the then Comiskey Park. Unks loved to ride roller coasters and had a grand time with the family including the Nyquist family (favorite next door neighbors from Royal Oak MI) at Six Flags Magic Mountain near LA.

Richard taught his siblings how to sail on Cass Lake in MI. He loved sailing so much that he used to crew big sailing vessels on Lake Michigan. Sister Janice credits Richard for her love of music. Richard appreciated classical, rock, jazz, blues, doo wop and more. Richard played accordion for a time in a band. He shared his records with Janice and when she was old enough, he introduced her to the Blues and Jazz Clubs in Chicago. Brother Ronald gained a love of cars, especially the Jaguar XKE, from his brother Richard. They enjoyed many other sports cars together. They traveled to France together to watch the Le Mans car race, and to Indiana for the Indy 500 race.

Richard enjoyed a long and varied career. After earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Business, he worked for various advertising agencies in the Detroit area, LA and Chicago. But once he got a taste of the jazz and blues scene in Chicago, that became his home. For many years he lived in a high rise on Sheridan Avenue, overlooking Lake Michigan where Richard walked the beach every night. After working for the Chicago Police Department and teaching in the Chicago schools, Richard started his own business where he was the Executive Director of Credit Collection Services.

Richard retired to Crofton NE with his wife Joyce. After he was a widower, due to Richard’s health conditions, he spent the last years of his life at Hillcrest Care Center in Laurel NE.

The family has great memories of a most extraordinary guy. He will be sorely missed.