Richard Desko

Richard Eugene Desko peacefully completed his journey to our Lord on the afternoon of April 30, 2024. Born in Kansas City, KS on November 28, 1937 to Emil Louis and Catherine Rose (Papa) Desko, he attended Blessed Sacrament Grade School, De La Salle Military Academy, Donnelly College and Rockhurst College where he studied mathematics.

Richard and Mary Marcelline Schrick were married on June 7, 1958 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Nortonville, KS and made their home in Kansas City, KS. In 1994, after a 28 year career at Hallmark Cards as a Management Information Specialist, Richard and Marcelline moved to Estes Park, CO where he immediately started his dream job as a US Park Ranger at Rocky Mountain National Park. They moved to Olathe, KS in 2012.

Richard was active in the Catholic church his entire life and took great pride in his Slovenian and Croatian heritage. He loved and was involved in all of his children's activities and especially welcomed opportunities to dote on his grandchildren. His favorite hobbies included hiking in Colorado, European travel, genealogy, and model railroading.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents and grandson, Matthew McCormick. He is survived by Marcelline, his wife of 65 years, children Richard (Lisa), Deborah (Shawn) Stover, Mary (Brad) Hellas, and Amy (Mike) Kostelac, grandchildren Sean (Piper) McCormick, Avery Hellas, Amanda Hellas, Conner (Emma) Kostelac and Cole Kostelac, stepgrandson Tyler (Jessica) Stover, great-granddaughter Jillian McCormick, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.


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