Richard F. Toof

Richard F. Toof, 93, of Aurora, NE, passed away September 7, 2018, at Aurora
Memorial Hospital surrounded by family.

Richard was born September 4, 1925, in Dalton, NE, to Clyde and Anna (Fecht) Toof.
He graduated from University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism.
He was joined in marriage to his sweetheart Beryl Bamberg on October 16, 1950.
Together, they created a family of five children: Mary Ann, Daniel, John, Lawrence,
and ReBecca. Hired in 1949, Richard worked for The Columbus Telegram selling
advertising for nearly 40 years. He retired as its Retail Advertising Manager in1988. He
was very active in the Columbus community. He was a member of Jaycees,
Toastmasters, Lion's Club, Junior Achievement, American Legion Honor Guard,
Columbus Rifle Club, Columbus Public Library, Platte County Historical Society,
Rotary, and Platte Valley Playhouse. He happily served in leadership roles in many of
these organizations as well.

As a proud United States Marine, he served in the Pacific Theater in WWII, which took
him to war zones in Pavuvu and Okinawa, and post-war occupation in Tientsin in
Northern China. This military service led him to a lifelong commitment of honoring
veterans, serving faithfully for over 600 funerals with the American Legion Honor
Guard.

His service in the Marines inspired a lifelong love of traveling with his wife throughout
the United States, Europe and the Holy Land. Upon return, he delighted in sharing his
adventures in the form of travelogues with friends, family, local schools and clubs.
Richard was an avid hobbyist, with passions that ran the gamut. He had a voracious
appetite for reading, gathering over 800 books in his personal library. One of the ways
he displayed his love for the written word was his weekly column about growing up on
his family farm during the Great Depression. Other leisurely pursuits included:
photography, cars, airplanes, motorcycles, hunting, gun collecting, and reloading shells.
And like all true native Nebraskans, he spent many a college game day over his lifetime
cheering on the Cornhuskers. GO BIG RED!

He is survived by his daughter Mary Ann Smith of Columbus, NE, son Fr. Daniel Toof
of Monroe, GA, son John Toof of Bellingham, WA, son Lawrence Toof of Grand Island,
NE, and daughter ReBecca (William) Allen of Aurora, NE. Sister Patricia Clow of
Omaha, NE. Grandchildren Megan Smith of Nebraska City, NE, Rachel Smith of
Kansas City, MO, Benjamin Allen of Aurora, NE, and Joseph Toof of Belllingham, WA,
and countless others who will cherish his memory.

He is preceded in death by his parents, sister Katherine Eckert, and, as he lovingly
phrased it, his beautiful wife Beryl who was truly a pearl of a girl.