Obituary:  Richard Duponcheel

On January 17, 1939, Richard Jerome Duponcheel was born in Omaha as Ricardo Sebastian Costanzo, the only child of Sebastian and Louise (Musco) Costanzo being 100% Italian and a first generation American.  His parents divorced when he was 2 years old with his mother marrying Jerome Duponcheel who adopted Rich changing his name to Richard Jerome Duponcheel.  Rich was recognized for his beautiful singing voice over his lifetime be it as a soloist in elementary, high school, or in college programs, community choirs, and in musical theater.  At the age of 10 he was selected to represent all Omaha elementary students when WOWTV began color broadcasting.  He was a member of the Kearney State College Choraleers, Guam Symphony Chorale, Eugene, Oregon Community Concert Choir and the Heartland Concert Choir and Barber Shoppers of North Platte, Nebraska. He also sang in several church choirs.  In 1981, he sang for Saint John Paul II when the Pope visited Guam.  Rich attended Omaha Public Schools graduating from South High in 1957.  He worked at Kilpatricks Department Store in Omaha during his high school years.

Upon his graduation from high school he moved to California.  During the Vietnam Conflict Rich volunteered, enlisting and serving in the U.S. Army Security Agency stationed in Massachusetts, Hawaii, and Japan where he was responsible for intercepting messages of the North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong.  Upon his discharge from the Army Rich began his educational career graduating from Peru State College in 1967.  He then entered Kearney State College for his graduate work towards his Masters Degree and where he met the person who became the love of his life-Karolyn Lynch of Arnold, Nebraska.  In 1968 the two graduated from KSC with Masters Degrees on Aug. 9, married in Arnold Aug. 10 and moved to Guam on Aug. 14 where they spent 25 years. Richard began his teaching career in 1968 at George Washington Senior High School, Mangilao, Guam (student population 2,400 students) in the Business Education Department, a position he held for the next 25 years while also sponsoring numerous student organizations and activities. He and Karolyn became known as Mr. and Mrs. D. The Duponcheel sons were born on Guam, Lawerence Jerome on January 4, 1972 and Daniel Richard born on September 18, 1987.  Rich was active in local community theater especially the musical plays of Rogers and Hammerstein.  In 1982 he received the Governor's Art Award for Outstanding Performance by an individual.  During 25 years on Guam Rich served 4 years in the Army Reserves and 15 years in the Coast Guard Reserves.

Traveling was one of the Duponcheel's favorite activities during their entire marriage.   Agendas included going around the world in 1970, to Communist China in 1977, and to the majority of countries in Asia and the Pacific as well as to Canada, Mexico and throughout the U.S. mainland.   After his love of family and singing Rich spent thousands of hours during his life time jogging, running, biking and participating in marathons and in civic events.   He jogged several miles every day until his deteriorating right hip joint made this impossible.

Richard loved to laugh and because of his quiet and gentle approach to life this sometimes surprised people.  One of his favorite stories was telling people he was the uncle of the Lone Ranger when his niece Connie was married to Clayton Moore, the actor who portrayed the Lone Ranger on television.

He and Karolyn would say several times a day, "I Love you! Always Together Forever".  This was the slogan they lived by their entire marriage-supporting each other in all endeavors as loving partners.  In 1991 they returned to the States-first to Arnold for 3 years and then to Ainsworth where Karolyn was principal of the High School and Rich was a substitute teacher and a Special Education assistant.

In 2016 Rich first showed signs of dementia which developed into Alzheimer's.  The Duponcheels then moved back to Arnold.  Even in his worst memory conditions Rich could be heard quietly singing to himself the lyrics of songs he had sung over his lifetime and saying "I love you" to his family.

By 2022 his left hip joint had deteriorated.  In 2023 his health worsened and in the fall of 2024 his family could no longer care for him at home.  At that time, Rich became a resident in the Veteran's section of the Hilltop Estates in Gothenberg, Nebraska.   On April 21, 2025 Rich ended his long Goodbye of Alzheimer's when he passed away at the age of 86 years, 3 months and 3 days.

Richard was an intelligent, honest, hard-working, kind, and loving individual, always loyal, supportive and ever protective of those he loved.   He was ever the gentle man and a gentlemen to all those he knew and met.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 56 years, Karolyn, sons Lawerence (Carrie) of Tinian/Arnold and Daniel of Lincoln, granddaughters Dolores-Karolyn and Danielle Louisa of Arnold/Tinian.  Sisters and brothers-in-laws Kitty and Bill Vogel (Arnold), Linda and Larry Kastens (Anselmo) step-brothers  and sisters-in-law Duane and Carolyn Bowers(Arnold), Glen and Kathy Bowers(Arnold), and Gary and Linda Bowers(Holdrege); Nieces Connie Moore, Lori Klein, Lynnett Panietz, Della Daily, Nephews Larry and Kiley Vogel, Lonnie Kastens, Derek and Drew Bowers. Cousins Georgia Harrah (Neb City), Polly-Ann Chandler (Omaha), Carolyn (Frank)Powell(Denver), Linda and Gary Nobbman(Lincoln), Jeri Reagan and Keith Deras (Omaha).  Special friends Joseph Diego and Michael Callo and hundreds of former students from Guam and Ainsworth who knew him as Mr. D.

Preceeding him in death were his parents Louise and Jerome Duponcheel, biological father Sebastian Costanzo, maternal grandmother Lucia (Rusco) Musco, his parents-in-law Lawerence Lynch and Doris Lynch Bowers, sister-in-law Kathy Lynch, special cousin Joseph Guido and special uncle Donald (Mutt) Shields, half-sisters Constance and Josephine and half-brother Samuel (Cathy), maternal aunts and uncles Angelina (Andy)Nobmann and Pauline(Bill)Feuguay, Fred(Nova)Musco, and all of Karolyn's aunts and uncles.

Memorial donations are suggested to the Arnold Historical Museum, the American Legion Post 130 of Arnold, Ainsworth Senior Center, or to the family for an organization that they will select to honor Richard's memory.   Condolences may be shared at Box 4, Arnold, NE 69120.

Memorial services are scheduled for May 3rd, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at Saint Agnes Catholic Church in Arnold, Nebraska.  Cremation was chosen.  Interment will take place at the Arnold cemetery at a later day.  Carpenter Memorial Chapel of North Platte is entrusted with the arrangements.