Richard F. Klasek

01/16/1937 – 06/27/2016

Richard F. Klasek, Master Sergeant, US Air Force (Ret.) peacefully joined his friends & family in Heaven on Monday morning, June 27, 2016. He was preceded in death by his wife Charlene Joyce and youngest son Glen Allen Klasek (who died tragically several years previously). He is survived by oldest son Charles Martin and middle son Randy Gene Klasek, as well as Charles' children Sabrina Marie and Christopher Richard & their families.

Richard was second-generation military (his father, Charles served in the Navy in World War ll) enlisted in the USAF in 1956 in Los Angeles, CA., and after Basic Training and school, reported to Yakota AB, Japan for duty as a Radio Operator aboard a B-50 bomber (an up-rated B-29 Superfortress of WWll fame). He re-trained into a high-pressure, high-security position in the Command Post career field, where he would spend the remainder of his career. One of his proudest career assignments was a two-year stint at Udorn Royal Thai Air Base in Thailand from 1967 through 1968, where he was a part of the USAF Air Rescue "Jolly Green Giants" (So denoted by their aircrews for the large green HH-53E "Super Jolly Green Giant" helicopters the unit flew in rescues of downed soldiers & airmen). While largely keeping silent of this assignment, he was justifiably proud of the reputation the unit had garnered, as well as his part in it.

Two assignments to Lajes Field, the Azores, Portugal also figured in then-Technical Sergeant Klasek's career, punctuated by a stint in a Stateside NCO Leadership School, where despite a badly-broken foot, he struggled to keep up with his academic studies. Noting his extreme effort, Klasek was graduated early from the NCOLS, and returned to finish his assignment at Lajes.

Toward the end of his career, he would be assigned to the Strategic Air Command installation Blytheville AFB, Arkansas (later renamed Eaker AFB) in the northeastern corner of the state. This would be his last full-time assignment, as he would officially retire in a short assignment to Tinker AFB, Oklahoma a few years later. All three of his children would subsequently attend and graduate from Putnam City Schools, with Glen and Randy departing to find their way in Dallas, TX after graduation, and Charles taking his place as the third-generation Klasek to serve his country (finishing on a medical discharge from the 31st Combat Comm. Squadron, 3rd Combat Comm. Group, TAFB, OK. in 1991, where he was the squadron's VCNCO).

After Glen's passing some years later, Randy came back to Oklahoma to start over, and almost literally became the rock which Richard would largely lean upon in his later years. Randy gave freely of himself at the expense of his job to do what his father needed done which he could no longer. Chuck would help where possible, but Randy was Richard's greatest help during his last few years.

Dad found it hard to express love to anyone thanks to a hard life in his younger years, but gradually came accustomed to both that, expressing thanks to those who helped him, and enjoying the 'little things' that God gave him to enjoy - little happinesses like feeding the ducks and geese around Lake Hefner and his home. He would also come to accept his Lord and Savior in his heart before he drew his last breath, something which he admitted was a huge comfort to him in the days after his wife's passing.

It was only about 18 months between Mom's and Dad's joining our Heavenly Father and our youngest brother Glen. In the words of Matthew 25:21: "Well done, good and faithful servant!"

We will miss the three of you forever, Dad.