Dick Gredell

Charles Richard “Dick” Gredell, 90, of Kansas City, MO, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 2, 2012, at St. Luke’s Hospital. Dick was born on July 17, 1922, in Kansas City, MO, the son of Otto and Clara Miller Gredell. He was married on October 25, 1947, in Kansas City to Catherine “Katie” Quinlan. They were married 30 years before Katie lost a hard-fought battle with cancer in 1977.

Dick earned his Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from UMKC and was the 1944 senior class president. His careers included photography, machinist for Radio Industries in KC, KS, and co-founder of Vista Manufacturing Co. in 1963. He dedicated the rest of his career to the success of Vista, ultimately becoming the sole owner and the face of Vista, until his retirement.

Dick was a devout Catholic and member of St. Augustine Church in KC, MO and then St. Catherine’s Church in Osceola, MO. Dick was an Eagle Scout and he loved the outdoors, instilling this love into his children and grandchildren, through sailing, camping, canoeing, hunting, fishing and farming. Family vacations were spent enjoying state parks, US National Forests, and he was especially proud to canoe the Boundary Waters Canoe Area five times. Since 1983, he dedicated every weekend to his farm near Osceola and retired there in Feb. 2012.

Dick is survived by six children: Virginia, Albuquerque, NM; Juliann Tapko (husband, Mark), KC; Thomas (wife, Carla), Holts Summit, MO; Dennis (life partner, Lori Wohlschlaeger), KC; Rebecca, KC; and Andrew (wife, Suzanne Hunt), KC; seven grandchildren: Sam, Luke and Dan Tapko, Nick (wife, Liz), Matt and Devin Gredell, Katie Buehler (husband, Brett); and two great-grandchildren: Max and Ellie; two sisters: Mary Louise “Bobbie” Duncan and Betty Ulschak (husband, Curtis).

He is preceded in death by: his wife, Katie; his mother and father; one brother, Walter Raymond “Ray” Gredell; and a special cousin, William E. “Bill” Miller.

Visitation will be at McGilley Midtown Chapel at 20 W. Linwood from 5 to 8 PM on Friday, Sept. 7, 2012, and 9 to 10 AM Saturday at St. Peter’s Church preceding the funeral Mass. The Rosary will be said at 7 PM on Friday at McGilley Midtown Chapel.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, at St. Peter’s Church, 6415 Holmes Street. Graveside services will follow immediately at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to: St. Catherine Catholic Church, Hwy WW, Osceola, MO 64776; or Little Sisters of the Poor (www.littlesistersofthepoorkansascity.org).