Dick Maurice Eiler was born April 7, 1931 in Spencer, Nebraska to wonderful parents Carl and Fern Eiler. He was baptized into the Methodist Church. He was the only child of Carl and Fern. Until the age of 10 his family lived mainly in the town of Bristow, Nebraska. His family then moved to Omaha. They followed family relatives and sought a better job opportunity in the bigger city. While growing up he was always surrounded by loving aunts, uncles and cousins. Dick attended Omaha Tech High School and afterwards he hitch hiked his way to visit relatives in California. Dick joined the Navy shortly thereafter and was stationed in San Diego, Ca. during his enlistment. Following his time in the Navy, Dick returned home to Omaha. It was there that he found his true love in Diane Rose Lushinsky. He spotted her while sitting with friends in a small diner. They married in 1953 in Ralston at the Christian Community Church. Dick and Diane were married 64 years. Diane, his true rose, passed in November, 2017.
Dick was known as a hard working man. He was a commercial painter and worked helping his father when he was young and later joined the Union Local 109. During the 1970’s Dick had his own union paint shop “Eiler Painting and Decorating” and employed a small crew of men. His motto was do the job right the first time so you don’t have to go back and fix your mistakes! A pretty good motto for life as well. Dick always thought that “Life was work and work was life so you better get used to it”. He told his son that on more than one occasion! He, for many years, worked more than one job to make ends meet. He made extra money to cover bills early on as a church janitor, grocery clerk and a gas station attendant. He provided a fine standard of living for his family. While in his mid 30’s Dick built a beautiful home for his parents along the Platte River by Venice. He did everything from the ground up. For almost a year he worked evenings and weekends pouring his heart and soul into his parents dream home. The home was later featured in the Living Section of the Omaha World Herald in the late 1960’s. The house still stands as a living memory to his fine craftsmanship. Dick’s children remember how their father enjoyed going on many weekend drives with the family if he wasn’t working. Their father loved to take vacations and again, always was working extra jobs to make it happen. During the 1970’s when owning his own business, Dick joined the Masons and later the Shriners. He maintained his memberships until the very end. One thing is for sure, Dick never slowed down to rest or sit around. His hobby was always lending a helping hand to any family needs. During his retirement he did have some time to collect old toy cars and trucks and loved matchbox cars. He had them displayed nicely in his office. Dick made sure to warn his children that retirement wasn’t all it was cracked up to be so warned not to rush it. Dick’s retirement, or so it was called, actually continued his working. He delivered auto parts and later worked for the Omaha Auto Auction part time for quite a long time. He enjoyed very much being around cars of any kind. When Mark and Dawn were young and still at home he would tell them “Don’t take your shoes off until you are ready for bed because we might just take a little drive”. Dick thought that napping was an idle sin. Heaven forbid you not feeling well as he would say it was just all in your mind or just don’t think about it so much! Dick told his son Mark “Why worry son, 99% of the things we worry about will never materialize”. Words of Wisdom from a simple yet strong man of the earth. It is sad that 88, almost 89 years of life are to be encapsulated on one page. There are so many chapters which could be written about our father, grandfather and great grandfather. He was a friend to all who knew him. God has blessed us all in some way for having his touched our lives. Now however, is the time to close this adventure book called “The Life of One Man”.
In the last several years of struggle I think he was teaching us some of life’s greatest lessons. Never ever give up, even when the world around ourselves seems disconnected and crazy. Always say to yourself, “Get up and keep moving”. You can travel far for something you believe in. You are never too old to be The King of Hearts…for which he was crowned just last month at his home’s Valentine’s Day celebration. If you ask you will receive. There are many angels in this world that are disguised as humans. It is okay to call out for help when you’ve fallen either emotionally, physically or spiritually. Man does not live by bread alone…something sweet may be better than yeast. If Jesus lived without food for 40 days and 40 nights maybe we can too. But most of all…Never forget the love of family, even in the shadow of death, for they are always with you.
May God’s loving hands lift up your spirit into the divine light of our Heavenly Father, in Jesus Christ we pray. Amen
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