Rick Wilder

Rick Wilder, 54, a former resident of Hastings NE, passed away after a long battle with cancer on Monday, October 20, 2014, at his home in Louisburg KS.

Memorial service will be Friday, October 24, 2014 at 7 pm with family greeting friends at 5 pm at the Apfel Funeral Home Chapel, Hastings with Rev. Paul Dunbar officiating.



Rick was born February 12th, 1960 in Hastings NE to Lyle and Delores (Baker) Wilder. He was the middle of three sons. Rick graduated from Hastings Senior High in 1978. He played football and wrestled, and worked at the Hinky Dinky grocery store.



Memorials may be given to the family.



After graduating from high school Rick began working for the Burlington Northern Railroad. During layoffs from the railroad he worked for T & L Irrigation Company. Rick eventually began working for Major Oil Company in Hastings NE. In 1991 he started his career working for Kansas Nebraska Natural Gas, which is now Kinder Morgan Natural Gas Inc. He worked for them in several different job positions, one of which transferred him and his family to the Kansas City area in 1998. He worked for Kinder Morgan Natural Gas Inc. until his illness forced him to retire.



During the summer of 1979 Rick met his future wife, Shari Kyle. They were married June 9th 1984 in Hastings Ne. They had two sons-Kyle and Garrett.

Rick was an active member of the Sons of the American Legion Post 250 in Louisburg KS. He loved helping with all the events the Sons had like the tracker pull and grilling the chickens for the Ladies Auxiliarys annual chicken dinner on Labor Day weekend.



Rick enjoyed hunting pheasant, quail and turkeys. He traveled to Hastings every year for an annual pheasant and quail hunt with his longtime friend, Jay Waechter. Rick was an avid Nebraska Cornhusker football fan. He put his Cornhusker flag out in our Kansas front yard for all the games.

Rick loved relaxing with friends, drinking beer and talking. He was outgoing and liked visiting with everyone. Rick also liked barbequing and smoking meat. He and his friends would occasionally enter barbeque competitions in the Kansas City area.



He is survived by his wife Shari (Kyle) Wilder of Louisburg KS, formerly of Hastings, two children Kyle Wilder and Garrett Wilder of Louisburg KS, his parents Lyle and Delores Wilder of Hastings, two brothers Jay Wilder of Hastings, and Mike Wilder of Fort Leonard Wood, Mo, and many cousins and nieces, a nephew and aunts and uncles.