“If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there.” This lyric from a song by Rick’s favorite songwriter and Beatle, George Harrison, encapsulates Rick’s adventuring spirit and love of life. Born on December 7, 1952 on Maxwell Air Force Base near Montgomery, Alabama to Oscar “Jerry” Thomas Herren and Eleanor Bailey Herren, Rick and his sister Brenda, spent their childhood, like so many Air Force “brats” do, traveling throughout the United States and attending five different high schools. Moving so often, Rick remarkably attained the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest achievement in the Boy Scouts of America. After graduating high school in Omaha Nebraska, Rick attended Jones County Junior College in Mississippi. He spent much of his time there performing with the traveling Christian vocal ensemble, “A Joyful Noise”. His junior year, Rick transferred to the University of Georgia in Athens, and later graduated with a BA degree in Marketing. As a member of the Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity, he developed many lifelong friends whom he cherished. He played trumpet in UGA’s Redcoat marching band—Go Dawgs! His senior year, Rick met and fell in love with the love of his life, Melani Morris, with whom he spent the next 43 years raising three beautiful children: Alison, Matthew, and Brittany.
After graduating from UGA, Rick and Melani moved to Martinez, Georgia. Rick worked in the telecommunications field with Georgia Power Company at Plant Vogtle for fourteen years. After the terrible attack against our nation on 9/11, his love of country compelled Rick to seek employment with General Dynamics, where from 2004 to 2012, he served four years as a defense contractor in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait. The birth of his beloved granddaughter, Julia, motivated Rick to transfer with GD to Colorado Springs, CO in 2013. Rick worked with GD until he changed his work status from full-time to part-time in January 2021 and looked forward to full retirement in June 2021.
Rick, a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod since 1987, attended Prince of Peace Church in Martinez, GA for thirty-three years. He loved serving as both a member of the church council and on the church’s Board of Elders. He most especially loved the lasting friends he met there. Rick transferred his church membership to Eternal Rock WELS church in Castle Rock, CO, in 2014. Rick’s favorite bible verse was Ephesians 2:8-9: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Understanding that he could not on his own merit heaven, Rick stood on God’s promise of salvation through his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. For this reason, we remain confident that one day we will once again rejoice with Rick in heaven.
Rick lived his life for family, God and country. Witty, compassionate and kind, Rick had the soul of a poet. He was loved by everyone who met him. Rick loved riding his Harley, exploring the outdoors, and attending live music concerts as often as he could. He was looking forward to road-tripping as a newly retired man on the hunt for adventure and a good dad joke.
Although Rick left this world suddenly and much too soon, he would want his family and loved ones to know that he lived a full and happy life, and that if he had it to do over, he wouldn't change a thing. He was a devoted husband, father, son, and brother. He loved deeply, gave generously, and cherished every moment he had here on this earth. Now he is forever rejoicing in heaven until we meet again.
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