C. Richard "Rich" Servis, 81, of Wichita, KS passed away Wednesday, August 24, 2022, at his residence surrounded by family. He was born on June 9, 1941, in Smithland, IA the son of the late Calvin L. Servis and Mary Ellen (Gilman) Servis. He married Deanne Renae (Schiefelbein) Servis in Clear Lake, SD on January 3, 1965.
Rich graduated from Smithland High School and later from the University of South Dakota with a bachelor’s degree in education and master’s degree in counseling. Upon graduation, he served in the United States Army during the Vietnam Conflict as a Postal Officer stationed in Fort Monmouth, NJ. In the fall of 1966, a close family friend encouraged Rich to take a position as an English Teacher at Westwood High School in Sloan, Iowa, the consolidated school district which he grew up near. He later went on to accept a position as the High School Guidance Counselor at Westwood. Rich enjoyed a 33-year tenure at Westwood which afforded him the opportunity to impact the lives of numerous generations of teenagers and help shape their career aspirations until his retirement in 1999. He and his wife Renae then moved to Omaha, NE to be closer to their son Scott and his family. Renae served as daycare provider while Rich transitioned to the much larger Omaha Public Schools District where he served as the college counselor for Omaha Central High School. This role proved to be very satisfying as he was able to help secure hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarship money to universities throughout the country for Central’s graduating seniors each year. In 2003, the entire family chose to move to Wichita, KS to be closer to extended family. Rich was not ready to retire just yet and took a counseling position with Clearwater High School where he continued to serve teens and made many lifetime friends. He retired from Clearwater after 56 years in education in June of 2022.
Rich loved people and often would find a trip to the local grocery store for a simple gallon of milk could take up to an hour. He loved to meet and greet the people he would encounter along the way and was genuinely interested in their lives and well-being. He was very well known and admired in the Sloan and Clearwater communities where he had numerous friends.
Rich attended Pathway Church in Wichita, KS where he served as a greeter, sung in the choir and participated in a small group Bible Study of beloved friends.
Rich was proceeded in death by his father, Calvin Lewis Servis; mother, Mary Ellen Servis; and brother Gary Eugene Servis. Surviving, are his wife Deanne Renae Servis, one son, Scott (Melissa) Servis of Wichita, KS; two granddaughters, Madison Servis & Ashley Servis, step-grandson, Gavin Knoll, mother of Madison and Ashley and close family friend, Ngoc (Kay) Servis, numerous brother and sister in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins.
A prayer service will be held on Thursday, September 1, 2022, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., with family present at Resthaven Funeral Home, 11800 U.S. Hwy 54, Wichita. A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, September 2, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at Pathway Church, 2001 N Maize Road, Wichita with Pastor Mike Justice officiating. Burial will be at a later date. During both services masks will be required per the family’s request.
In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established as the Rich Servis Scholarship Fund at Westwood High School, Sloan, IA or Clearwater High School, Clearwater KS in care of Equity Bank.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ResthavenMortuary-Cemetery.com for the Servis family.
