Richard "Dick" C. Mailander, 81, of North Platte, passed away Nov. 28, 2016 at Golden Living Center in Cozad.  He was born July 3, 1935 to Paul and Pauline (Semper) Mailander in Spalding, NE and graduated from Spalding Academy in 1953.
Dick enlisted in the United States Army in Jan of 1955, along with 8 or 9 others from the Spalding area.  He took paratrooper training at Ft. Campbell, KY with the 11 ^th airborne division and spent 3 years in Germany constantly training to protect the border between East and West Germany.
After returning from Germany, Dick moved to Chadron, where his folks had moved.   He joined the National Guard and continued his military career.  He worked for Ross Transfer and then moved to Gordon, NE to manage the freight dock there.  Dick continued his military career with the National Guard full time and went back on active duty to activate and ship out with an Army Reserve Unit, to Vietnam from 1968 to 1969.  He traveled numerous parts of Vietnam with an I.G. Inspection Team, responsible for personnel accounting of some 10,000 soldiers.
After returning from Vietnam, Dick transferred to North Platte, to manage the National Guard Armory.  He also instructed at the Nebraska Military Academy at Camp Ashland and the Professional Education Center for the military at Camp Robinson at Little Rock, AR.  He retired as First Sergeant in August of 1994.  He married Marion J. Handspiker Dec. of 1960.  On Nov. 7, 1973, Dick was united in marriage to Sandra (Benton) LeDroit at Cheyenne, WY.
He was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in North Platte, the American Legion, 40 & 8, VFW, Enlisted Association of the National Guard.
He is survived by his wife, Sandra of North Platte; his children, Brenda (Kevin) Mahlberg of Elwood, Kevin (Pam) LeDroit of North Platte, David Mailander of Northglenn, CO, Todd (Lisa) Freeman of North Platte and Ricky (Amy) Mailander of Broomfield, CO; brothers, Paul (Nellene) Mailander of Scottsbluff, Dan Mailander of Spalding and Edward (Rhonda) Mailander of Parker, CO; 11 grandchildren; and 10 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, David and Lawrence Mailander.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 2, 2016 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Burial will be at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell with military honors.  Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday with family receiving friends from 5 to 7 Carpenter Memorial Chapel.   Rosary will be 7:00 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com .  A memorial has been established in his memory.  Carpenter Memorial Chapel is in care of arrangements.