Richard M. Hadsell

Richard M. Hadsell, 83, of Gering, Nebraska passed on at the Heritage Nursing Home on Monday, March 16, 2009. His funeral and farewell will be Saturday, March 21st, 2009 at 10 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Mitchell, Nebraska, with Pastor Sheila Taylor officiating. Military honors will be provided by the United States Navy. A memorial, in lieu of flowers, has been established at the Mitchell United Methodist Church for a new front sign. Richard was born on October 31, 1925, in Table Rock, Nebraska to Grace (Huston) and Hugh B. Hadsell. Richard lived in depots much of his childhood as his dad was a telegraph operator for the Burlington Northern Railroad. He spent most of his school years in Tablerock but transferred to Pawnee, Nebr. for his senior year. He excelled in sports and lettered ten times in high school in football, basketball and track. Three days after graduating from Pawnee High, he was enlisted in the Navy (just like his older brother Neil) and went to boot camp to prepare for WWII. He spent his days in the war on the islands of Leyte and Samar in the Philippines and some time on Guam as well. When the war ended, he went back to Nebraska and enrolled at Nebraska Wesleyan University. He was a defensive back and co-captain on their football team and got his degree in teaching and coaching. He took a short break from college to do a stint fighting fires in Montana and Idaho and then went back to college and graduated. His first job teaching history and coaching football, basketball and track was at Blue Hill, Nebraska. After his first year there, he married Maxine Gies on August 17, 1952 in Lincoln, Nebr. She was the love of his life and he was a devoted husband to her for 56 years. In that time, they lived all over in Nebraska; Blue Hill, Benkelman, Bridgeport, Kimball (where he was Athletic Director, Principal and teacher), Chadron (where Richard taught at CSC), Oshkosh, Bridgeport (for a 2nd time) and then 33 years in Mitchell (but he was school librarian and coach at Scottsbluff HS during that time). He and Maxine’s final three years were spent in Gering. Within that time frame, Richard got another degree in P.E. and health and a master’s degree in library science. He truly loved teaching and coaching and being with his students. Many of his ex-students would stop by and visit later and he had the privilege of attending some of their class reunions, which he thoroughly enjoyed. He had terrific qualities for a teacher; the patience of Job, a caring heart, tremendous background knowledge and a rock solid value system. Not only was Richard a devoted husband and teacher, but he became a terrific dad to Barry (born in Lincoln on June 9, 1959) and Katherine (born July 14, 1961 in Lincoln.). He spent time telling them stories, playing sports with them, being a wonderful father-figure and passing on his love. He also became a grandfather to Cameron and Samantha Mackley. He was a doting grandfather and visited them in Nevada many times each year. He would play countless hours of games, take them to the pool, take them to sporting events and watch theirs, travel with them, read to them and support them in all their endeavors. He was so proud of them; he loved that Cameron went to the U.S. Naval Academy and graduated there in 2007 and he enjoyed watching Samantha as she attended college in Kentucky. Richard was a Nebraska Cornhusker football and volleyball fan as well as a Chicago Cubs and Green Bay Packer fan. His knowledge of players and the game was astounding! He was also a faithful lifetime member of the United Methodist Church and was usher and board member in Mitchell for many years. He was an avid gardener and loved taking care of his huge yard and garden. He is survived by his son; Barry Hadsell of Gering Nebr., his daughter; Katherine Mackley of Boulder City, Nevada, his grandson; Ensign Cameron Mackley (about to deploy to the Mediterranean Sea), and his granddaughter; Samantha Mackley (currently doing a business internship at Disney World, Florida. He is preceded in death by his wonderful wife, Maxine, his brother Neil Hadsell, and his parents, Hugh and Grace Hadsell. He will be truly missed and remembered by all the family and friends he left behind. Above all he was a great man…Richard loved God, served his country, and adored his wife, kids and grandkids. The world will be a lonelier place without him, but Heaven will be luckier with him.