John A. Richardson, 90, of Grand Island died Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at St. Francis Skilled Care.
Long time members of the Episcopal Church, memorial services for John will be at 1 pm Friday, December 7, 2012 at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Grand Island with Rev. Timothy D. Raasch officiating. According to his wishes John was cremated, there will be no visitation. Inurnment will be in the St. Stephen's Episcopal Church Columbarium.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, the Doniphan Senior Center, Habitat for Humanity or the donor's choice.
Mr. Richardson was born May 4, 1922 to Dulcie (Guthrie) and Jesse Richardson at their farm home north of Guide Rock, Nebraska.  He attended the Eckley Consolidated School in Webster County, graduating in 1939.  He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942.  In 1943 he entered Flight Training School, receiving his wings and commission in June of 1944.  During the war he was co-pilot on B-17s, later qualifying as pilot.  Though scheduled for reassignment to England, the end of World War II brought the cancellation of that assignment.  In 1946 John returned to civilian life, and the Guide Rock area and in 1947 started employment with the Nebraska Highway Department. In August of 1947 he married Eileen M. Portenier, a union of 60 years.  They renewed their wedding vows at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Grand Island, Nebraska in August of 2007 in celebration of their 60th anniversary.
John and Eileen had one daughter, Linda Eileen Carey, of Longmont, Colorado.  In addition to his daughter, he also is survived by grandson Michael Jensen and his wife Donna of Virginia Beach, Virginia and grandson Christian Jensen and his wife Jame of Arvada, Colorado.  Also surviving are his great-grandchildren, Nathaniel and Mikayla Jensen of Virginia Beach, Virginia and Sarah Eileen Jensen of Arvada, Colorado.
John spent 40 years with the Nebraska Department of Roads, retiring in May of 1987.  Some of his most rewarding experiences included his work from 1960 to 1969 as Project Engineer on several stretches of Interstate 80 from Shelton to Ogallala, from surveying the land to paving the road.  The last 13 years of John's career were spent as District Construction Engineer at the Grand Island Department of Roads District Office.
Their retirement years were special for John and Eileen, involving travel and visits to many places of interest including all 50 states and several foreign countries.
Mr. Richardson was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Eileen, his parents, Dulcie and Jesse Richardson, and his brother Earl Dean Richardson.
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law Linda and Richard Carey, his grandsons and their families, his sister-in-law Patricia Richardson of Guide Rock, Nebraska, his brother Marvin Richardson of Columbus, Nebraska, his sister-in-law Dorothy Williams of Lincoln, Nebraska, and dear friends Diane and Jim Stevenson of Doniphan, Nebraska.  He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

Long time members of the Episcopal Church, memorial services for John will be at 1 pm Friday, December 7, 2012 at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Grand Island with Rev. Timothy D. Raasch officiating. According to his wishes John was cremated, there will be no visitation. Inurnment will be in the St. Stephen's Episcopal Church Columbarium.