Richard "Dick" D. Osterhaus

Richard “Dick” D. Osterhaus, 83 years of age, of Beatrice passed away on Saturday, September 20, 2025 at Beatrice Community Hospital and Health Center. He was born on November 8, 1941 in St. Benedict, Kansas to Henry and Frances (Holthaus) Osterhaus. Dick graduated from St. Mary’s Catholic School in St. Benedict, Kansas. He served his country in the United States Army and National Guard before working in the grain business. Dick married Mary Kay Wassenberg on October 30, 1965 at. St. Gregory’s Catholic Church in Marysville, Kansas. They moved to DeWitt and Dick went to coop management school and became a grain elevator manager working in Firth, Phillipsburg, Kansas and La Crosse, Kansas. He loved to do community work. While in DeWitt, Dick was the mayor and worked closely with Governor Kerry to start the NRD dams west of DeWitt. He was instrumental in building a new feed mill and new church while in Phillipsburg and a new office with a large truck scale while in La Crosse, serving on several committees and boards. Dick was a past member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Wilber where he was a charter member of the Knights of Columbus. Dick and Mary Kay moved to Beatrice in 2003 and became members of St. Joseph Catholic Church. He enjoyed refinishing old cars, tractors, taking up residential wiring, refinishing old houses and had a natural ability to invent or make parts for old cars. Dick attended men’s coffee group every morning and sometimes in the afternoon. He belonged to car clubs and went to many car shows, winning many trophies.

Dick is survived by his wife, Mary Kay; daughter, Patty Osterhaus of Lincoln; son, Jon Osterhaus and wife Leanna of Firth; grandchildren, Matt Osterhaus, Dylan Osterhaus and wife Chloe, Kate Osterhaus, Cooper Osterhaus; 4 great grandchildren; sisters, Mildred Eisenbarth of Onega, Kansas, Sharon Broxterman and husband Dick of Sabetha, Kansas, Jeanette Koch and husband Elmer of Kansas City, Missouri; brothers, Jerry and wife Judy of Seneca, Kansas, Dennis and wife Kathy of Sabetha, Kansas; sisters-in-law, Bernadette Taylor and husband Dan of Omaha, Zita Osterhaus of Summerfield, Kansas; brothers-in-law, Jim Wassenberg and wife Lou of Marysville, Kansas, Gus Sandman of Blue Rapids, Kansas; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Delores Brucken and husband Hap, JoAnn Sandman, Immaculata Osterhaus; brothers, Eddie, Hank, Marvin and wife JoAnn, Robert; and brother-in-law, Don Eisenbarth.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Thursday, September 25, 2025 at St. Jospeh Catholic Church in Beatrice with Father Joseph Faulkner presiding. Inurnment with military rites by the Nebraska Army National Guard Honor Guard and Bitting-Norman Post #27 of the American Legion will follow in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. A rosary will be held at 10:00 AM Thursday at the church. There will be no viewing but a register book will be available to sign at Harman-Wright Mortuary in Beatrice on Wednesday, September 24, 2025 from noon to 8 PM with family greeting friends from 6 to 8 PM. Memorials are suggested to mass at any church in memory of Dick or the family’s choice in care of the mortuary. Harman-Wright Mortuary & Crematory in Beatrice in charge of arrangements.

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