Richard H. Cordes

Richard H. Cordes, 89, of Norfolk, formerly of Wolbach, died Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023, at Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Wolbach. Vicar Abigail Vetick will officiate. Burial will be in the Hillside Cemetery in Wolbach with graveside military honors by Ray Mapes American Legion Post 236 and the U.S. Army Funeral Honors Team.

Visitation will be Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church.

Memorials are suggested to the family for later designation.

The service will be livestreamed on the Trinity Lutheran YouTube page. The direct link for that is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwRtlJ-igkhosan-87wbX5A.

Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is assisting the family.

Richard Henry Cordes was born on the family farm north of Wolbach, NE, to George and Minnie (Rother) Cordes on December 22, 1934. 

Richard attended Star Country School until 8th grade and graduated from Wolbach High School in Wolbach, NE.

Richard worked on the family farm with his father and siblings, and later worked for a local farmer until he enlisted in the US Army where he learned to be a mechanic and was Honorably Discharged. He earned the Good Conduct Medal while in the Army.

On December 13th,1958, he married Virgie Berney in Marysville, Kansas. To this union they had four daughters: Dawn, Ronnette, Carmen, and Deirdra.

Richard farmed with his father and his own land, north of Wolbach. He was recognized for making the best Hay Stacks in the area. He would help with Stuart Teter at his Garage in Wolbach, a few times, during the winter months, while working on his tractor. Later, he worked with Don and Art Anderson, Mike McIntyre, Randy Christensen, and for many years with Larry Steenson.

Richard and Virgie enjoyed going on trips with Bill and Colleen Zyntek, and Donald and Joyce Berney. Took some trips to the Casinos up north with their longtime friends, Carl and Dona Ondracek. Richard enjoyed gardening, bowling, Polka music, watching western tv shows, Sudoku, playing cards, board games, Wahoo, reading, visiting with family and friends, taking long drives to see the countryside, and most of all, enjoyed time with his girls, and the many generations of Grandchildren.

Richard was a member and Council Member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Wolbach, NE. He was a member of the Ray Mapes American Legion Post 236 and had served as the Legion Commander. He had served on the Farmer Union Service Station Board, and was a member of the Wolbach Rodeo Club, and spent many hours improving the Rodeo Grounds.

Richard is survived by daughters, Dawn and Kenneth Miller, of Grand Island, NE, Ronnette and Alan Schneider, of Schuyler, NE, Carmen Potratz, of Columbus, NE, and Deirdra and Kirk French, of Hooper, NE; grandchildren: Jacqueline Leitschuck, Valerie Galvan and Daniel Stubblefield, Brandon Miller, Aleasha Potratz and fiancé, Riley Logue, JR French and Connor Weigel, Evan French and fiancée, Mary Saeed, and Eric French and Valaree Busse; great grandchildren: Jonathan Leitschuck, Alyssa Leitschuck and Dave Reeves, Wyatt Lee, Shaylee Miller, Braden Galvan, Elias Stubblefield, Mikaela and Matt Proehl; great-great grandchildren: Addison, Noah, and Knox Proehl, and Jamie Reeves; sister, JoAnn Abboud of Fort Lauderdale, FL and very dear friend of the family, Betsy Kish, Omaha, NE; sisters-in-law, Jody Cordes of Prosser, NE, Joyce Berney of Wolbach, NE and LaVon Berney of Hastings, NE sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Loyla and Ron Vogel of Davis, CA and Kathy and Chuck Houtby of Wolbach; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Minnie Cordes; wife, Virgie Cordes on July 2, 2016; brothers, Ronald Cordes and Donald Cordes; brother-in-law, Ronald Abboud; in-laws, Loyal "Charley" and Irene Berney; and brothers- in -law, Donald Berney and Galen Berney.