Richard (Rick) J. Broberg, 73, of Leawood, KS, entered into the presence of the Lord on Saturday, October 16, 2021, following a sudden aggressive cancer diagnosis and brief stay at KC Hospice House.
A celebration of life is scheduled for Wednesday, October 27, 10:30 am, at Red Bridge Baptist Church in Kansas City, MO. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 pm on Tuesday, October 26 at the church. A second memorial service and burial near Loomis, NE will be announced at a later date.
Mr. Broberg, the son of cattle farmers, Welton and Faye Thompson Broberg, was born July 26, 1948, in Holdrege, NE. He was active in 4-H, showing grand champions at the county fair. He excelled in athletics, participating in football, basketball, and track. His upbringing instilled a strong work ethic, which he demonstrated throughout his life.
In 1966 Rick graduated from high school in Loomis, NE, and would later attend McCook Junior College and Kearney State University, graduating in 1971. The first four years of his career were spent in Hildreth, NE, where he taught school and coached various team sports. He led several undefeated Junior High and Junior Varsity basketball teams, including a football team which would rank 2nd in state.
Rick taught the next five years at Elkhorn Valley in Tildren, NE, and served as basketball coach, football coach, and athletic director. Both boys and girls Junior High basketball teams laid claim to undefeated seasons.
In the fall of 1980, Rick moved to Kansas City and earned a Master’s Degree from Kansas University. His twenty-nine years of service with the Shawnee Mission School District began in 1982. In addition to teaching and inspiring students at the Heartland Alternative School, he was assistant football coach for Shawnee Mission East (fourteen years), assistant basketball coach for Shawnee Mission West (fifteen years), and from 2000 to 2008 served as Drivers Education Director for the district. Rick genuinely cared for each student and that love, mixed with a healthy dose of discipline, generated appreciation from his students in the years to come.
Upon retirement in 2010, Rick was free to pursue other interests. He first focused on ensuring that brother, Daryl, receive adequate care for a brain disease – a mission that would encompass the next three years. Then, on August 15, 2014, he married Wendy Brown and over the next seven-plus years they built a nice life together. Having no children of their own, Rick relished being an uncle to many. He was determined to guide and impact their lives in a positive way and would often drive hundreds of miles to ball games and track meets to offer encouragement and support.
Sports played a significant role in his life – especially NE Cornhuskers Football, the L.A. Dodgers, and the Boston Celtics; but he also cherished spending quality time with family and friends. Weekly highlights included Monday evening Cribbage with cousin, Olive; daily exchanges with the neighbors, Anthony and Bob; bowling with buddies, Bubba and Gooch; gathering and dining out with friends; regular calls to friends and relatives; and worshiping the Lord on Sundays. It was through these interactions that beautiful friendships developed and existing ones were maintained.
Rick was baptized in 1988 and was a member of First Baptist Church of Raytown, MO, and regularly attended Solid Rock small group. In addition to contributing time and money to Hope Network and Kansas City homeless missions, he was a member of The Gideons International and served as president of the Kansas City Southeast camp for two years. Many friendships were established through these connections and countless lives were impacted. Rick was a loyal friend, a faithful husband, and a dedicated Christian man. Kindness and generosity will be his legacy. He was loved and cherished, and will be missed by all.
He is survived by wife, Wendy, of the home; a niece, Vickie Varela, of Greeley, CO; nephews, Bob Broberg of Sutherland, NE, and Justin (Brandee) Broberg of Omaha, NE; great-nephew RaShawn (Marah) Varela of Greeley, CO; great-nieces, Elaina and Emersyn, of Omaha, NE; a great-great-nephew, Archer, of Greeley, CO, and many cousins throughout NE, KS, MO, and MN, including Olive Sadler of Overland Park, KS, and Gregg (Debbie) Sadler of Olathe, KS.
He was preceded in death by his mother, father, and two older brothers, Daryl and Jim.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to The Gideons International, Connection Point Church, or Red Bridge Baptist Church. They may be sent in care of Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO 64131 (designating on the check that it is for the Rick Broberg Memorial Fund)
