Richard Dale Gillham

March 13, 1935 - January 12, 2022

Richard D. Gillham, 86, of Doniphan passed away on Wednesday, January 12, 2022. Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Trinity Lutheran Church. Reverend Adam Snoberger is officiating. Vic Peter, a lifelong friend and teacher for many of the family at Trinity Lutheran School, will conduct the music for the service. Burial will follow in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation is at the church from 5-7 p.m. Monday. All Faiths Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements. Richard was born March 13, 1935, in Grand Island, the son of Harold and Helen (Weeks) Gillham. He grew up in Grand Island and graduated from Senior High School. On October 3, 1952, he married Barbara Meyer, the love of his life. This year would be their 70th anniversary. They were best friends, married young and felt they raised each other together, growing up with family and grew in their faith along the way with each other. Richard worked as a brakeman for Union Pacific Railroad alongside his father who was a conductor. After his employment with the railroad, the couple briefly resided in Chicago before moving to Jacksonville, Florida where Richard worked for Western Electric, and as a salesman for American Motors. They returned to Grand Island where Richard worked for his father-in-law, Arnold, at Meyers Farm Equipment and eventually purchased the implement business. He took much pride in owning and operating the business, as well as the relationships formed within the farming community and with the Meyers Equipment family and friends. He also enjoyed the family cabin at Sherman Lake where he and his wife loved to sail. Richard had a childhood dream of a owning a horse, therefore he made sure each of their six children had a horse to ride. He enjoyed watching them at horse shows and also raising quarter horses. He retired in 1996, and they moved to Amick Acres in Doniphan, where they enjoyed living life on the beautiful lake. Those who cherish his memory include his wife, Barb; children, Debra (Michael) Husman of Chapman, Stephanie (Wendall) Cooper of Peyton, CO, Rick (Deb) Gillham of Hebron, Richelle (Jeff) Kitchen of Marshall, TX, Laura Hermance of Grand Island and Rebecca (Scott) Christensen of Lincoln. He is also survived by eleven grandchildren, Kerri (Aaron) Bly, Joe (Candace) Husman, Matthew (Nicole) Knight, Weston (Amanda) Cooper, Rachel (Paul) Pridham, Cassie Cooper, Bo Gillham, Tara (Matt) Swartzendruber, Hannah (Chris) Dunlap, Reaghan Christensen and Rowan Christensen; 28 great-grandchildren; sister, Joy Reeves of Central City; nieces, nephews and cousins. Richard was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Jan Gillham and Craig Gillham; and a granddaughter, Tessa Knight. Memorials are suggested to Trinity Lutheran School. Online remembrances may be left at www.giallfaiths.com.