His first job was delivering the newspaper to residents of Burlington Junction, Missouri, a job he held from elementary school through high school.

As a young boy, Richard was always looking for a good time, running around town with his friends, being mischievous and living his best life, much to his parents’ dismay.

Richard graduated from Burlington Junction High School.

After high school, Richard attended Baker University in Baldwin, Kansas, and graduated in 1962. While at Baker, he pledged the Zeta Chi fraternity which enabled him to maintain his social life. One day, he spotted a pretty girl in town and asked a brother in the fellowship to set him up on a blind date. A year later, Meredith and Richard were married at Baldwin United Methodist Church on July 1, 1961 and spent 60 years as husband and wife. In 1968, they adopted their only child, Tracy.

After graduating from college, Richard got a management position with Montgomery Ward in their warehouse in Kansas City, Missouri. When given the chance to evolve in a growing area of ​​business, information systems, he contributed to that evolution towards a successful career in information technology.

Moving his family from Shawnee, Kansas to Chicago, Illinois, Richard remained in Wards for 18 years. After that he worked for Firestone in Akron, Ohio, Peter Kiewit Construction in Omaha, Nebraska SC Johnson Wax in Racine, Wisconsin and retired as vice president of information systems at The Bradford Exchange in Niles, Illinois.

Richard has been able to make a difference in the lives of others through his volunteer efforts over the years. He started a city-wide girls softball league in Wadsworth, Ohio, worked with the United Way, served on several committees for The United Methodist Church, delivered food for Meals on Wheels, and served on their board of directors, served as chairman and board member of Villas de Alvamar HOA for several years and served as chairman of PADS, a homeless program in the northwest suburbs of Chicago.

Additionally, Richard was a pastor Stephen for Lawrence’s First United Methodist Church and called church members every Monday.

Richard and Meredith retired to Lawrence in 2002, where Richard walked three miles each day, a habit he started early in life. The walk kept her in good physical shape and visited neighbors. He rarely missed a day.

Richard was known in all circles to be the nicest of men, a reputation confirmed in the later stages of his life at Brandon Woods and Bridge Haven Assisted Living, where he regularly hung out with other residents and staff.

Richard is survived by: his wife, Meredith McPheeters Hann; daughter Tracy Hann (Germaine Barnes); twin sister, Katherine (Bob) Sawyer; sister-in-law Dorothy Hann, sister-in-law, Joanne (Don) Burns; and several nieces and nephews.

He is predeceased by: his parents, Ramey and Wilda Hann; sister-in-law, Donna Jean Egbert Hann; and brothers, Bill and John Robert Hann.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made by the Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044 at First United Methodist Church, Baker University or Meals on Wheels.

There will be a 1 p.m. visit to the First United Methodist Church, 946 Vermont Street in Lawrence, followed by a 2 p.m. funeral service on Monday, September 20, 2021.

For more information or to post condolences, visit warrenmcelwain.com. As published in the St. Joseph News-Press.