Richard (Rich) March, husband of Juanita March, went to be with his Lord August 12, 2020. He was surrounded by family at home. Rich was born in Kansas City, Kansas to Clyde and Anita March on October 7, 1940. Rich had an older sister, Gail, and a younger brother, Gary. The brothers enjoyed teasing their sister. He generated much laughter throughout his life, pulling pranks, making jokes, and telling stories. In high school Rich played numerous instruments including piano, violin, baritone and trombone. As a Boy Scout he enjoyed many adventures, such as swimming in Puget Sound.
Rich attended Kansas State Teachers College (Emporia State University) where he met Juanita Sheldon. After a root beer date and shared laughs, they fell in love, marrying on May 30, 1963. They lived in Kansas City where Rich apprenticed as a machinist in the Atchison Railyards and served in the Army Reserves at Ft. Wood. They had two daughters, Julia and Karen. Deciding they didn’t want to raise their family in the city, he took a job with the Santa Fe railroad in Newton. He was a locomotive mechanic in town, and a work equipment maintainer in the field, following the crews working on the line, keeping their equipment running. They lived in Greensburg, KS, briefly, where Rich worked for John Deere. While Rich had a deep knowledge of how to fix just about anything, he lived by the motto “if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it.”
Richard loved the great outdoors, particularly fishing, whitewater canoeing, and Jeeping in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. He shared the joys of camping and canoeing with his family. He had many stories to tell of his travels across the Western U.S. and Alaska, especially of wildlife he observed. Like his dad, Rich never knew a stranger. He would lend a helping hand whenever he was able, whether it was mowing the church lawn, volunteering with the Colorado Division of Wildlife, or helping a stranded motorist. To those he helped, he asked only that they return the favor by helping others in need.
After retiring from Santa Fe, Rich and Juanita enjoyed volunteer work serving at First United Methodist Church, and taking their fifth wheel camper places for the summer such as Lake John, Colorado where Rich volunteered as a camp host for many summers, and Buena Vista, Colorado, where they enjoyed beautiful views of Mt. Princeton and surrounding peaks.
Richard prioritized his family; gathering at the table, sharing meals and stories with his children and grandchildren brought much joy. He shared his appreciation of music with them, from classical to bluegrass, and was generous with his knowledge of fixing things. His daughter, Julia Crocetto, resides in Palisade, Colorado with her husband Tony. His daughter, Karen Brunk, resides in Moundridge with her husband, Mike. They have 2 daughters, Allison and Sarah.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents Clyde and Anita March, sister and brother-in-law Gail and Glen Rickerman, and brother Gary March. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Juanita, and their daughters, Julia Crocetto (Tony) of Palisade, CO; Karen Brunk (Mike) and their daughters, Allison and Sarah of Moundridge, KS; sister-in-law Linda March of Overland Park, KS; nieces Kristen Hane and Gretchen Hembree and their families of Leawood, KS; nephew Brett Rickerman and his family of Durango, CO; as well as cousins and their families.
Memorial Service will be 2:00 p.m. June 5, 2021 at First United Methodist Church in Newton
Memorial donations may be made to First United Methodist Church of Newton, New Hope Homeless Shelter in Newton, or Harvest of Love (Salvation Army Harvey County), in care of Petersen Family Funeral Home.
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