On December 6th 1950, in St Edward, Nebraska, Lucille Munson, with her husband Roy at her side, gave birth to the youngest of their three sons, Richard ("just call me Rich, would ya?!") Alan Munson. Rich was a kind, caring, sweetheart of a man, desperate to prove otherwise.

He was constructed almost entirely of dichotomies, which is exactly what you get when you're a man curated by a World War II Sergeant turned CPA with a vicious sense of humor, and a County Clerk for a mother, comprised of cinnamon, sugar, BUSHELS of patience topped with Norwegian wit and prayers. Those dichotomies, for example, are a man who loved kids yet wants them to stay the hell off his lawn. A man who loved a good bug zapper and butterflies. A heart that sought peace, and a penchant for military airpower.

Rich grew up with his family in Columbus, Nebraska- Roy, Lucille, and his two older brothers, Marty Munson and Dave Munson. He graduated High School in the summer of '69 after a three-year focus on mathematics, athletics, petty torments against faculty and sometimes classmates. The seeds were planted through his blossoming love of sports that if you play hard, don't make assumptions and take educated chances, incredible things can happen. Rich left the nest later that year but didn't fly too far away, landing in Lincoln to attend Teacher's College. During that time in his life, he would be introduced to two of the greatest loves in his life- Men's fastpitch softball, and an ocean-eyed knockout named Donna Temps.

In the summer of 1973, Rich went with a group of friends to the Royal Grove in Lincoln to see a local band, but ended up focusing most of his attention on a particularly stunning brunette. After witnessing several of Rich's "fly by's" in the bar, Donna, the railroader's witty daughter stopped him and asked, "are you lost?" Rich took a chance, and an incredible thing happened. They were married October 19th of the following year. Jennifer was their first born in June of 1981, followed by Sara in July of 1985. Despite his best efforts, neither of his daughters ever learned how to correctly hold a flashlight.

Rich was dropped onto this earth with an athleticism most people work their tails off to achieve. Whether he crouched at the plate, wearing his knees to smithereens and heckling batters as a catcher, in the batter's box, intimidating a pitcher certainly taller than he was, or the one on the mound with one foot on the rubber, ready to fire a nasty drop ball, he loved the thrill of the game. The smell of the dirt. The sounds, the feelings… the possibility that today, you could be a hero. Even if just for a moment. He would take those famous chances of his by stealing bases or swinging against the signs. Donna went to nearly every game he played with the girls in tow. They chased foul balls while she would cheer (or jeer) boisterously from the bleachers. Off the field, you could find him on the weight bench in the basement at home, sending himself back to college to earn his second bachelor's degree, or convincing his kids that band-aids were made of belly button lint.

When his body couldn't give what his heart wanted to, Rich put his cleats away but couldn't leave the game. He began coaching women's teams, working at pitching clinics, and at one point, acting as the Men's Fastpitch League Commissioner. He was also an extremely instrumental, influential force in implementing Fast Pitch Women's programs in public schools, but he wouldn't want you to know that. He didn't want to be recognized personally. He wanted the game to receive that recognition, the players to reap the benefits of working hard to achieve greatness, and the skills that come with self-development creating the perseverance to succeed in life. Rich wanted you to love the game and the way it could make you feel. He wanted you to learn to take chances and be great, too.

In those formative years, Rich was holding down multiple jobs ranging from grease monkey, to auto-glass installer, to a certified mechanic, to a high school history teacher, to finally, an environmental engineer with the City of Lincoln Wastewater department. A man with his morals in a position heavily influenced by government meant that he would make many friends…and some, ya know, non-friends. He was a staunch advocate for the environment, the people in it, and the coworkers that went with him into the field each day, and he didn't care who he pissed off in the process. He concluded his decades of service when he retired in May of 2017 to take care of Donna at home full time.

Back in 1997, Donna began to change. A strange, unknown cognitive impairment would wind its grip around Rich's beautiful girl and not let go. Never one to back off from a challenge, he was equal to the task. And for 26 heartbreaking years, Rich stood by her side while he tried to fight off the goliath that was threatening his love, tearing his family apart, and breaking his seemingly impenetrable spirit, tempered by seventy years of competitive fires. There was never a day he didn't show up, breathing fire, taking chances, and fighting to save his family from the damage path Dementia leaves in its wake. Donna finally declared victory over her diseases in May of 2023, slipping into merciful slumber with his hand in hers.

On the night of April 15th, Rich put himself to bed and slid off into eternity, back into the arms of the only woman he ever loved. Back into his mother's kitchen, back with his Dad, sharing an "end of tax season" whiskey, back with his brothers that he missed so dearly. We're certain Sandy was there to greet him, springy legs and tail wags, with Kasy, Sluggo and Phoenix in tow. The Munson family is together once more.

He lives on through his daughter Jennifer, who intends to finish the Chev for him the way we planned and to only run the good gas. Through Jennifer's husband, Ross Statler, who embodies so many of the traits that made Rich so loveable and sometimes unbearable. Through his Granddaughter, Stella Lucille Munson, every time she strikes a heavy bag, revs the engine on her motorcycle or tells a bully smooth off. Through Sara, every time she finds a new and inventive way of sticking it to the government each tax season or remembers to clean out from underneath her lawnmower. Through Aaron Boone every time he loses his mind on an umpire and gets ejected, and through each one of you, who dare to practice the values that he preached. Don't be afraid to work hard. Put your body in front of the ball to stop it, even if it hurts. ALWAYS LEG IT OUT ON YOUR WAY TO FIRST. Never assume you're out! Educate yourself. Listen to everything. Take a chance. Something incredible might happen. Friends are family, and family comes first. Protect them at all costs. Find your person and love them without end, and no matter what-

Never, ever give up.