Richard Pywell, of rural Palco, Kansas, passed away on March 10, 2025, at his home, at the age of 85. He was born on January 24, 1940, to Percy and Effie (Ouderkirk) Pywell in Zurich, Kansas. He was married on June 23, 1962, to Carol June Mayhew in Plainville.
Richard grew up in Rooks County. He graduated from Palco High School in 1958. He received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Kansas State University in 1963. Richard had a successful and fulfilling career in healthcare facilities management. He served as the Director of Plant Operations at Hadley Hospital in Hays, Sarah Bush Memorial Hospital in Charleston, Illinois, and Ottumwa Regional Health Center in Ottumwa, Iowa. Throughout his career, Richard was dedicated to ensuring the efficient and safe operation of the hospitals he managed. He was known for his leadership, technical expertise, and commitment to his work. His contributions were valued by his colleagues, and he made a lasting impact on the institutions he served.
Richard enjoyed cheering on his daughters in everything they did, whether it was one of many dance recitals, volleyball matches, baseball games, and track meets. He also enjoyed piddling on many different projects and telling technically detailed “common sense” stories. You could find him working on one of many projects that Carol had planned out for him, but you would most likely find him over in the shop working on his Packard, tearing apart and rebuilding one of his many Wheelhorse mowers, or searching for a tool he couldn’t find because someone had tried to organize his cluttered shop. When he wasn’t working on a project, he enjoyed watching vehicle restoration shows, You-Tube, Chiefs football or Fox news on TV. Richard never stopped learning and always said he could fix it. He was a member of NRA – National Rifle Association.
Richard is survived by his wife, Carol; three daughters, Tracy A. (J.R.) Miller of Edgerton, Kansas, Jill A. (Kirby) Wechsler of Ellis, Kansas, Brandee A. Klawonn of Charleston, Illinois; siblings, Florann Young of Meridian, Idaho, Leroy Pywell of Wichita, Kansas, Wilma Hiser of Cleveland, Tennessee, Beverly Barr of Nampa, Idaho; four grandchildren, Chase Wechsler, Kyle (Maddie) Wechsler, Nathaniel Wechsler, Donette Klawonn; seven great-grandchildren, Braelynn Wechsler, Rustin Wechsler, Jettison Miller, Charlotte Miller, Eliott Miller, Archer Wechsler, Caiden Erwin.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Percy and Effie Pywell; brother, George Pywell; in-laws, Paul and June Mayhew, Gary Mayhew, Lois Pywell, Harry Young, and Dale Hiser; grandson, Jesse Miller; and son-in-law, Raymond Scott Klawonn.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 10:00 AM, at the Nazarene Church in Plainville. The burial will follow at Pleasantview Cemetery in Palco. Visitation will be on Friday, 6-8:00PM at the funeral home in Plainville.
Memorials are suggested to the Plainville Church of the Nazarene and may be sent to Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 320 SW 2nd, Plainville, KS 67663.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.plumeroverlease.com