August 27, 1958 - September 17, 2025

Following a courageous battle with cancer, Duane Richard "Rick" Sprick II, 67, Lenexa, Kansas, passed away at home Wednesday, September 17, 2025, surrounded by his wife, Holly, and children, Sam and Hannah.

Rick was born August 27, 1958, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to Duane and Carol Ann (Sievers) Sprick. During his childhood, Rick and his family lived in many places due to his father's military career.

After his 1976 graduation from Fort Calhoun High School in Nebraska, Rick earned his bachelor's degree at the University of Nebraska-Kearney. For his mortuary science degree, he attended Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Wheeling, Illinois. Additionally, he attended Webster University for a Master's degree.

After becoming a Professor of Mortuary Science at Kansas City Kansas Community College in the fall semester of 1992, Rick received Teacher of the Year honors that first year. He remained with the program there until his retirement in 2022. For the duration of his career, Rick helped hundreds of students succeed in passing their national board exams to become funeral professionals across the country.

Family and friends were very important to Rick, and he loved including them in his multiple hobbies. Established in the late 1990's, Ol' Style Smokers was his competitive BBQ team. In BBQ contests, Rick made sure people knew his food was the best, with the ribbons for perfect scores as proof. Rick also enjoyed playing golf, he loved fishing, and he always savored the opportunity to host and cook for anyone he could.

Rick was preceded in death by his parents and several aunts and uncles.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Holly; son, Sam (Lauren); daughter, Hannah Sprick (Cody); sister, Paula (Carl) Grotelueschen; brother, Stu (Diane) Sprick; aunt, Donna Hansen; uncle, Roger Sprick; aunt, Claire Ann Sprick; father-in-law, Dr. Thomas Johnson; brother-in-law, Ben Johnson (Lori); and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews, and lifelong friends.

The family would like to acknowledge Midwest Transplant Network for their assistance with Rick's donation.

Also, we wish to express our most sincere gratitude for the kindness, support, and generosity shown over these last few months as Rick fiercely and bravely battled cancer. Love, Holly, Sam and Hannah.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the family which will fund a remembrance bench in Rick's honor, or donations may be made to the University of Kansas Cancer Center.

VISITATION AND MASONIC SERVICE: 5:00-8:00 p.m. Friday, October 10, 2025, with Masonic Service, conducted by Solomon Lodge #10 A.F.&A.M., at 7:30 p.m. all at Sievers-Sprick Funeral Home.

CELEBRATION OF LIFE SERVICE: 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 11, 2025 at Fort Calhoun Presbyterian Church.

INURNMENT: 12:15pm-12:30pm October 11, 2025 Fort Calhoun Cemetery.

Sievers-Sprick Funeral Home in service to the family.

Funeral leaflet

(photo)

In Loving Memory of Duane Richard "Rick" Sprick II

Born August 27, 1958 Myrtle Beach, South Carolina ~ Died September 17, 2025 Lenexa, Kansas

Visitation and Masonic Service 5-8pm Friday, October 10, 2025 with Masonic Service at 7:30pm Sievers-Sprick Funeral Home.

Celebration of Life Service 11am Saturday, October 11, 2025 Fort Calhoun Presbyterian Church. Officiant: Pastor Brad Fogo. Music: "Give Me Jesus" by Jeremy Camp; "Amazing Grace" recording of Carol Sprick; "Take It To Jesus" recording of Rick's grandfather, Erwin Sprick (Bass) with the Telbasta Men's Quartet; "The King Is Coming", by the Statler Brothers

Inurnment: Fort Calhoun Cemetery, Fort Calhoun, Nebraska

The family would like to acknowledge Midwest Transplant Network for their assistance with Rick's donation.

Also, we wish to express our most sincere gratitude for the kindness, support and generosity shown over these last few months as Rick fiercely and bravely battled cancer. Love, Holly, Sam and Hannah.

~~~obituary and funeral leaflet courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings and leaflets on file in the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska ~~~

FindaGrave 287730839