Dick Turpin, avid outdoorsman and master storyteller, passed peacefully in his sleep Feb. 2, 2022, at the age of 84 in Lincoln, Nebraska, after spending the day with family and chatting on the phone with friends.
Born in Bassett in 1937 to Cliff and Leona Turpin, Dick developed his love of the outdoors in the Nebraska Sandhills and carried that passion to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission where he worked for more than 40 years.
In 1957, Dick began his first job with a grounds crew near his hometown. He then landed a peach assignment, becoming a conservation officer in Ponca where he worked in Dakota, Dixon and Thurston counties. In 1973, Dick and his family moved to Lincoln, where he coordinated the state’s hunter safety education program for 18 years. He became Chief of Law Enforcement in 1991 and served in that role until his retirement in 1999.
During his career he traveled the state and beyond, training hunter education instructors, speaking, conducting adult and youth workshops, and telling stories and leading singalongs around campfires. He was active in many wildlife conservation organizations, hosted the Outdoor Nebraska radio show and had great fun filming his Turpin Time outdoor tip segments. In retirement, he kept busy hunting and fishing with family and friends, and making turkey box calls.
He and his wife Reenie (Vetter) from Long Pine married in 1960 and raised five kids, enough to throw together a dance band that played for nearly 20 years - making lots of music and many friends along the way.
Dick lived life with great enthusiasm for the things that meant the most to him - family, friends and the great outdoors.
Dick is survived by Reenie; children, Muffy (Jack) Morris of North Platte, Neb., Jeni (Pat) Borer of Lincoln, Neb., Jana (Mick) McGuire of Lincoln, Neb., and Travis (Abby) Turpin, Waterloo, Iowa; 13 grandchildren and 3 greatgrandchildren; sister Lanita (Turpin) and Bob Maurer, Columbus, Mont.; brother-in-law Corby O’Hare, Lincoln, Neb.; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his sister Jan (Turpin) O’Hare, daughter Tricia and great-granddaughter Ingrid “Iggy” Borer.
Memorials to the family for later designation. A celebration of life is being planned.