Richard I. “Dick” Arett, 95, of Fremont, Nebraska, died Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2018, at Nye Legacy in Fremont.

He was born Jan. 29, 1923, in Austin, Minnesota, to Fred and Anna (Earl) Arett. He grew up there, graduating from high school in 1940. In his younger years he was active in 4-H and FFA and showing and judging horses.  He served in the U.S. Army Air Force from 1942-46 and was discharged as a staff sergeant.

On Dec. 28, 1946, Richard married Theresia ‘Tracy’ Menage in Rock Rapids, Iowa. Hormel employed him as a livestock buyer for 40 years. While working for Hormel, he lived in Austin, Rock Rapids, Omaha, Nebraska, Ralston, Nebraska, and Wayne, Nebraska. He has resided in Fremont since 1973.

He bought, restored, and sold antiques and horse drawn buggies and wagons. He owned riding and draft horses for 40 years. He was a member of the Nebraska Draft Horse & Mule Association and the Belgian Draft Horse Corporation of America. He and Tracy attended horse sales and shows, locally and nationally, for many years.  He was ringmaster of the Nebraska State Fair Draft Horse Show for 10 years.

He enjoyed driving his restored 1926 Model T 4-door Touring Car. Richard and Tracy were Husker Football fans, attending games from 1952 to 2013. They enjoyed their motorhome and camping in state and national parks. He was a member of First Lutheran Church, serving on the council and ushering. He has been a member of the American Legion since 1946. He is a member of the Fremont Eagles Aerie 200, and was a member of the Izaak Walton League for 42 years.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Theresia ‘Tracy,’ in December of 2014; sister, Priscilla Johnson; and brother, Ralph, who was killed during World War II in France.

He is survived by his son, Ralph (Pamela) Arett, Palmyra, Nebraska; grandson, Jeffrey (Kelly) Arett, Waverly, Nebraska; great-granddaughter, Gracie Ann Arett; granddaughter, Lori (Seth) Yant, Lincoln, Nebraska; great-grandson, Sawyer Yant; sister, Patricia (Raeburn) Hanson, Austin; brother-in-law, Dean Johnson; nieces and nephews; and special friends, John and Stephanie Ferguson and children, Archer and Maddox, Ashland, Nebraska.

The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018, at First Lutheran Church, 3400 E. Military in Fremont. Visitation will be from 2-7 p.m., with the family present from 5-7 p.m., on Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, at the Ludvigsen Mortuary. The committal will follow in Memorial Cemetery with Military Honors by the Fremont Honor Guard of American Legion Post 20 and VFW Post 854. Memorials are suggested to First Lutheran Church or to the family for distribution.