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William Dean Wrich, age 80, of Kennard, Nebraska died Saturday November, 19, 2016, at Memorial Community Hospital in Blair. Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 10:00 AM at First United Methodist Church in Blair. Burial will follow services at the Prairie View Cemetery. Visitation will be held Tuesday at Campbell Aman Funeral Home with family receiving friends from 5 to 8 p.m., with a prayer service at 7 p.m.

William D. Wrich was born on July 30, 1936, at the family home in rural Kennard, Nebraska. He attended LaCrone country school just north of the family home, and later attended Blair High School, where he drove a Model T to school. Bill began racing at Arlington Speedway at 16. Due to his young age, his father had to give permission for him to participate. On June 26, 1956, he was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Joyce Larsen, at the First United Methodist Church in Blair. Bill and Joyce took over the family farm in 1969, and enjoyed a successful farming and livestock career for nearly 60 years.

Bill served as a Washington County Supervisor for a decade, was a member of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Community Board and The Prairie View Cemetery Board. During his years of racing, he won many championships at local tracks in Nebraska and Iowa, and in 2008, he was inducted into the Nebraska Racing Hall of Fame. The Wrich family was a recipient of the Pioneer Farm Family Award in 2012. As this year's fall harvest came to an end, Bill was making plans for future farming and racing.

Bill loved going for rides with Joyce and his dog, Willie, never taking the same road twice.

Bill is survived by his wife, Joyce, of Kennard; daughters, Debbie (Scott) Kerber of Marshfield, Missouri, Jacque (Mike) Salerno of Omaha; daughter-in-law, Patty Wrich (Jeff) Konen of Omaha; daughter, Gayle (Greg) Russell of Arlington; sons, Randy (Bonnie) Larsen of Cave Creek, Arizona, Rick Larsen of Omaha; sister, Jeanette Schneider of Kennard; sister-in-law, Shirley Wrich of Blair; grandchildren, Stephanie Kerber, Tony (Amy) Salerno, Anna Salerno, Katie Salerno, Maria Salerno, Laura Salerno, Morgan Wrich (Seth Gebers), Carsten Wrich, Jamie Johnston, Jeffrey Kauffman, Emily Larsen, Delaney Larsen, Logan Graf, and Alex Graf; great-grandchildren, Jaxlynn and Paxley Johnston, Adalina and Micah Salerno; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Dwight Wrich; brother, Virgil Wrich; an infant sister; and brother-in-law, Ray Schneider.

Wrich, William Dean Age 80 Kennard, NE. Survived by his wife Joyce; daughter, Debbie (Scott) Kerber; daughter, Jacque (Mike) Salerno; daughter-in-law, Patty Wrich (Jeff Konen); daughter, Gayle (Greg) Russell; son, Randy (Bonnie) Larsen; son Rick Larsen; sister Jeanette Schneider; sister-in-law Shirley Wrich; 14 grandchildren; and 4 great grandchildren. FUNERAL Wednesday at 10am at First United Methodist Church in Blair. GRAVESIDE SERVICES at Prairie View Cemetery. VISITATION Tuesday at Campbell Aman Funeral Home, with family Receiving friends 5-8pm, and a PRAYER SERVICE at 7pm. Memorials may be directed to The American Heart Association, or The Kennard Volunteer Fire and Rescue Squad. CAMPBELL-AMAN FUNERAL HOME 444 S. 17th Blair, NE 402-426-2191 www.campbellaman.com Omaha World Herald 21 Nov 2016

Wrich, William Dean Age 80 Kennard, NE. Survived by his wife Joyce; daughter, Debbie (Scott) Kerber; daughter, Jacque (Mike) Salerno; daughter-in-law, Patty Wrich (Jeff Konen); daughter, Gayle (Greg) Russell; son, Randy (Bonnie) Larsen; son Rick Larsen; sister Jeanette Schneider; sister-in-law Shirley Wrich; 14 grandchildren; and 4 great grandchildren. FUNERAL Wednesday at 10am at First United Methodist Church in Blair. GRAVESIDE SERVICES at Prairie View Cemetery. VISITATION Tuesday at Campbell Aman Funeral Home, with family Receiving friends 5-8pm, and a PRAYER SERVICE at 7pm. Memorials may be directed to The American Heart Association, or The Kennard Volunteer Fire and Rescue Squad. CAMPBELL-AMAN FUNERAL HOME 444 S. 17th Blair, NE 402-426-2191 www.campbellaman.com

Washington County Racing Legion dies (article written by Leanna Ellis Nov. 23, 2016) Published in The Enterprise 11/25/2016

(Photo of Bill & car)

(Caption: Bill Wrich of Kennard poses for a photo with his 1932 Ford “Vicky” which he raced in The Good Ole’ Time Racing Association most recently as September.)

Bill Wrich loved getting behind the wheel of his race car.

“Racing was his hobby. He was still racing this summer a few times in those old cars. He was pretty darn good at it,” said longtime friend, Red Misfeldt.

Friends and family are remembering the Kennard man — a racing legend and farmer — who died Saturday at Memorial Community Hospital in Blair. Wrich was 80 years old.

Wrich, who was inducted into the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2008, bought his first race car for $25 when he was just 16 years old in 1954.

“It had everything but a motor,” Wrich told the Enterprise in 2008.

Wrich asked Bill Jorgensen, who operated a filling station in Kennard, to build him an engine for the 1939 Ford Coupe.

In his first year, Bill raced to the track championship in Arlington. In the more than 40-year career that followed, Wrich won championships at six tracks in Nebraska and Iowa, and raced on the International Motor Contest Association (IMCA) and United States Auto Club (USAC) circuits. His last feature win was in 2005 during the Race of Legends at I-80 Speedway.

In the early years, Misfeldt would often go watch his friend race at the Arlington track.

“I went to several races,” Misfeldt said. “It seemed like when I went, he lost. I told him, 'I'm not going to anymore of your races.' I was a jinx.”

Though he quit racing regularly in 1998, Wrich never really quit.

Wrich raced most recently as September in the Good Ol' Time Racing Association (GOTRA) in his car, a 1932 Ford “Vicky,” which he bought and rebuilt.

“He never got it out of his system,” said longtime friend, Betty Vogt, who would often watch Wrich race with her husband, Glen, and their children.

At 80, Wrich was the oldest driver in the group. He still enjoyed the excitement of getting behind the will.

“It’s still a thrill and, of course, I like to show my little car off,” he told the Enterprise.

Lee Ackerman, who writes a weekly racing column for the Omaha World-Herald, got to know Wrich through his son, Dwight Wrich, who also raced.

When Dwight was killed in a racing crash in Harlan, Iowa, in 2000, Ackerman said that drew him closer to Bill.

“He was a unique individual and I think anybody that knew him would tell you that,” Ackerman said.

Ackerman, who also works at I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, said in recent years he looked forward to seeing Bill at the racetrack.

“The next time the GOTRA guys are wherever I'm at, I'm going to miss seeing Bill,” Ackerman said.

Ackerman called Bill an inspiration to many drivers.

“When you see a guy that's 80 years old getting in a race car, that inspires you,” Ackerman said.

When he wasn't in a race car, Bill was operating the farm, which had been in his family for more than a century.

Misfeldt, who has known Bill since high school, would often help Bill during the harvest.

“I'd help him haul corn. I'd help him bale hay at different times,” Misfeldt said. “We always had fun doing it. Drink a beer or two, chat and relax. It was just good times.”

Misfeldt, his wife, Anita, and the Vogts also participated in a monthly card club with Bill and his wife, Joyce for nearly 60 years. The club began in 1957 with several couples.

“When we first started out they thought that would be a cheap night out,” Vogt said. The group still met and we're scheduled to play cards the night Bill died.

“We're like brothers and sisters — the five (couples) that are still together,” Misfeldt said. “When something happens, we're all there for each other.”

Misfeldt said he last spoke with Bill two weeks ago at a church dinner in Kennard.

“Well, hi there, Melvin,” Bill said.

“He always called me 'Melvin,'” Misfeldt said. “That's my name, but most people call me 'Red.'”

Misfeldt said he would miss Bill's ability to speak his mind.

“Bill didn't pull any punches,” Misfeldt said. “He said what he believed. I've always admired people that would do that. He never got mad necessarily, but he said what he believed.”

“He always acted like he was a hard-hearted guy, but he wasn't. He was really soft-hearted,” Vogt said as she fought back tears. “We will miss him.”

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~