Richard (Dick) Hodtwalker

Richard (Dick) Hodtwalker, 72 of Grand Island died Saturday, April 9, 2016 in Grand Island. A Celebration of Life Service will be Thursday, April 14, 2016 at 10:30 AM at Apfel Funeral Home in Grand Island with Rev. Lonnie Logan and Rev. Theresa Mason officiating. Inurnment will follow at Grand Island Cemetery. There will be no visitation. Memorials have been suggested to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society or the American Cancer Society. Apfel Funeral Home is serving the family.

Richard (Dick) Lee Hodtwalker was born March 8, 1944 to Kenneth and Ruth (Tyler) Hodtwalker in Grand Island, NE. He grew up on a farm southeast of Chapman, NE and attended District 3 elementary school, a one room schoolhouse. He attended Grand Island Senior High where he participated in varsity wrestling and qualified for the Class A state wrestling tournaments. He was the editor of the Islander school newspaper. After graduating from Grand Island Senior High in 1962, he attended Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. During the Vietnam War he served as a Morse code interceptor in the Army Security Agency and was stationed in Okinawa, West Berlin, and Ft. Bragg, NC. Twice he was named Soldier of the Month. After being discharged, he finished college where he was the editor of the college yearbook. He graduated from Kearney State College in 1971 with a degree in journalism.

He married Elizabeth Ann Vipperman on August 31, 1963 at the Chapman Baptist Church; two daughters were born to this union. Dick farmed and worked in the popcorn industry for several years. He also worked in mortgage and house construction for many years. In his later years, he worked for IEH Laboratories as a courier. He served on the Chapman School Board and was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church and the Saddle Club. Dick enjoyed traveling, camping, fishing, wood working, gardening, dancing and reading. He especially enjoyed attending his childrens and grandchildrens activities and watching them grow up.

He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; two daughters, Christine (Kelly) Mendyk and Adrienne (Kent) Redwine, all of Grand Island; grandchildren, Anna Mendyk, James Mendyk, Seth Redwine, Alec Redwine, and Adan Redwine; two sisters, Elaine (Tim) Mainwaring of Orange Park, FL; and Julie (Greg) Blanke of Espanola, NM; a foster brother, Leslie Grotzky of Muskatine, IA, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, James Hodtwalker.