Richard Henry SYKORA

1923 - 2013  (90 years)

• Name	Richard Henry SYKORA  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15]
  Birth	25 Jun 1923	Vinita, Craig, Oklahoma, USA   [2, 3, 4, 5, 8]
  Gender	Male
  Also Known As	Dick SYKORA  [5]
  Census	11 Apr 1930	Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska, USA   [2]
  		1930 Federal Census of Nebraska, Douglas County, Omaha Enumeration District No. 28-61, Supervisor's District No. 7, Sheet No. 12B
  Census	18 Apr 1940	Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska, USA   [3]
  	Richard is listed as male on the census but at the same time is also listed as the daughter of the head of household. Whoops.
  		1940 Federal Census of Nebraska, Douglas County, Omaha Supervisor's District No. 2, Enumeration District No. 94-90, Sheet 12B
  Census	19 Apr 1950	Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska, USA   [13]
  		1950 Federal Census of Nebraska, Douglas County, Omaha Enumeration District No. 95-345 Sheet No. 74
  Death	9 Sep 2013	Peoria, Maricopa, Arizona, USA   [4, 5]
  		SYKORA, Richard Henry Obituary
  Burial	Abt 12 Sep 2013	National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona/Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona, USA   [4, 5]
  		SYKORA, Richard H SYKORA, Marian E
  Person ID	I1426	Family Tree
  Last Modified	8 Apr 2026

  
  

  Father	Richard SYKORA,   b. 29 Mar 1888, Bohemia d. 5 Mar 1965, Douglas, Nebraska, USA (Age 76 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Mother	Amelia Hattie RUZICKA,   b. 12 May 1890, Kearney, Buffalo, Nebraska, USA d. 6 Nov 1944, Douglas, Nebraska, USA (Age 54 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Marriage	1917	Leduc, Leduc, Alberta, Canada   [16]
  		RUZICKA, Amelia Alberta, Canada, Marriages Index, 1898-1944
  		SYKORA, Richard Alberta, Canada, Marriages Index, 1898-1944
  Family ID	F285	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Marian Elizabeth LEONARD,   b. 8 May 1923, Knoxville, Marion, Iowa, USA d. 23 Oct 2000 (Age 77 years)
  Marriage	14 Sep 1946	Holy Name Catholic Church/Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska, USA   [5, 6, 7, 17]
  		SYKORA, Richard H LEONARD, Marian Nebraska, U.S., Index to Marriages, 1909-1955
  Children	+ 1. Lenni Kathleen SYKORA > 2. Kenneth Richard SYKORA > 3. Dennis Richard SYKORA > 4. Penni Suzanne SYKORA
  Family ID	F482	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	8 Apr 2026

  
  

• Event Map		Birth - 25 Jun 1923 - Vinita, Craig, Oklahoma, USA Census - 11 Apr 1930 - Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska, USA Census - 18 Apr 1940 - Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska, USA Marriage - 14 Sep 1946 - Holy Name Catholic Church/Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska, USA Census - 19 Apr 1950 - Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska, USA Death - 9 Sep 2013 - Peoria, Maricopa, Arizona, USA Burial - Abt 12 Sep 2013 - National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona/Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona, USA  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Photos

  SYKORA, Richard Henry

  
  

  Documents » Slide Show		SYKORA, Richard H U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947
  		SYKORA, Richard H U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947
  		SYKORA, Richard and Family U.S., City Directories, 1822 - 1995 Residence Year: 1941 Street Address: 2214 Q Residence Place: Omaha, Nebraska, USA Publication Title: Omaha, Nebraska, City Directory, 1941

  
  

• Sources

  [S79] GRIEGO, Lenni, Email of 31 Jan 2007. They had two children, ... Richard Henry (my dad)... [S563] 1930 U.S. Census, Nebraska, Douglas, Omaha, Fifteenth Census of the United States Schedule; Online Images, Enumeration District No. 28-61, Supervisor's District No. 7, Sheet No. 12B. Lines 72 thru 75 [S659] 1940 U.S. Census, Nebraska, Douglas, Omaha, Sixteenth Census of the United States Schedule; Online Images, Supervisor's District No. 2, Enumeration District No. 94-90, Sheet 12B. Lines 51 thru 54 [S936] National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona (Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona, USA), Grave Markers. SYKORA RICHARD H SGT USAAF WORLD WAR II 1923 2013 MARIAN E 1923 2000 FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS [S937] Obituary of Richard Henry SYKORA, (Name: Arizona Republic; Location: Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona, USA; Date: 15 Sep 2013;). Sykora, Richard Henry June 25, 1923 - September 9, 2013. Richard Henry Sykora, 90, passed away on Monday, September 9th in Peoria, Arizona. He was born in Vinita, Oklahoma on June 25, 1923 to parents Amelia Ruzicka Sykora of Moravia and Richard Sykora of Vienna, Austria. Dick was proud to be a first generation American. The family moved from Oklahoma to Omaha when Dick was a young boy. He attended school there, graduating from South High in June of 1942, just as the United States entered World War II. Dick served his country with great pride in the United States Army 8th Air Force Division while stationed in Peterborough, England. His specialty was servicing the radar equipment on the bombers that flew over Europe. Three days after returning from the war to Omaha in December, 1945, he met his future wife, Marian Leonard, while ice-skating at AkSarBen. Married September 14, 1946 at Holy Name Church, they began their lives together for the next fifty-four years, while raising their four children. As the Manager of the Industrial Development Department at the Omaha Public Power District, Dick's career focused on public relations encouraging commercial businesses to relocate to the greater Omaha area. He wore a suit to OPPD every day, but his passion was working with his hands. He built the family home on Spaulding Street. He assembled a replica of a 1936 Cadillac. He built play houses, doll houses, box race cars and toys for his children and grandchildren. He loved everything mechanical; his basement was a sophisticated display of tools and saws, and his gifted use of them showcased what a talented and creative man he was. Dick's other passion was boating. He and Marian owned five boats, the smaller ones used for skiing on Carter Lake, and larger cabin cruisers docked on the Missouri River. Their social lives centered around boating and their boating friends. Upon retirement in 1987, Dick and Marian followed their children to Phoenix, Arizona, which allowed them the joy of more time with children and their six grandchildren. In Phoenix, Dick continued his woodworking, jewelry making and painting. He was able to reconnect with friends in Sun City from his childhood. Dick was a man of quiet dignity, yet, he would never miss an opportunity to tell a good joke at family gatherings. Dick is preceded in death by his wife, Marian. He is survived by Gloria Welch, his beloved companion for the past 12 years; his daughter Lenni (Bob) Griego, Ken (Toni), Dennis (Savana), Penni (Don) Klick; seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren; and older sister, Lilyan Chilese of Omaha, Nebraska. A private family celebration of Dick's life will be held in December. Internment at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona. Contributions in Dick's memory may be made to the Arizona Women's Board in support of kidney health at www.authorsluncheonaz.org or AWB 5921 East Indian Bend Road Paradise Valley, Arizona 85253 [S938] Nebraska, U.S., Index to Marriages, 1909-2022. Name: Richard H Sykora Marriage Date: 1946 Marriage Place: Douglas, Nebraska, USA Certificate Number: 6077 [S940] U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-current. Name: Richard H. Sykora Gender: Male Residence Date: Abt 1946 Residence Place: Bruno Marriage Date: Abt 1946 Marriage Place: OMAHA, Nebraska, USA Parents: Richard Sykora Spouse: Marian Leonard [S929] U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947. Name: Richard Henry Sykora Gender: Male Race: White Age: 19 Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head) Birth Date: 25 Jun 1923 Birth Place: Vinita, Oklahoma, USA Residence Place: Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska, USA Registration Date: 30 Jun 1942 Registration Place: Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska, USA Employer: Max Simon Butcher Height: 6 2 Weight: 155 Complexion: Light Hair Color: Brown Eye Color: Hazel Next of Kin: Richard Sykora [S940] U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-current. Name: Lenni Kathleen Sykora Gender: Female Marriage Date: Abt 1969 Father: Richard H. Sykora Mother: Sykora Spouse: Robert G. Griego [S959] Nebraska, U.S., Birth Ledgers, 1904-1911, Birth Index, 1912-2004. Name: Kenneth Richard Sykora Gender: Male Birth Date: 22 Jun 1950 Birth Place: Douglas, Nebraska, USA Parent 1 Name: Richard H Sykora Certificate Number: 13490 Birth Certificate Type: Normal [S959] Nebraska, U.S., Birth Ledgers, 1904-1911, Birth Index, 1912-2004. Name: Dennis Richard Sykora Gender: Male Birth Date: 5 Feb 1953 Birth Place: Douglas, Nebraska, USA Parent 1 Name: Richard H Sykora Certificate Number: 03708 Birth Certificate Type: Normal [S959] Nebraska, U.S., Birth Ledgers, 1904-1911, Birth Index, 1912-2004. Name: Penni Suzanne Sykora Gender: Female Birth Date: 2 May 1954 Birth Place: Douglas, Nebraska, USA Parent 1 Name: Richard H Sykora Certificate Number: 11597 Birth Certificate Type: Normal [S1052] 1950 U.S. Census, Nebraska, Douglas, Omaha, Seventeenth Census of the United States Schedule; Online Images, Enumeration District No. 95-345, Sheet No. 74. Lines 22 thru 24 [S959] Nebraska, U.S., Birth Ledgers, 1904-1911, Birth Index, 1912-2004. Name: Lenni K Sykora Gender: Female Birth Date: 15 Oct 1947 Birth Place: Douglas, Nebraska, USA Parent 1 Name: Richard H Sykora Certificate Number: 24939 Birth Certificate Type: Normal [S765] U.S., City Directories, 1822 - 1995. Name: Richard Sykora [plus family members] Residence Year: 1941 Street Address: 2214 Q Residence Place: Omaha, Nebraska, USA Publication Title: Omaha, Nebraska, City Directory, 1941 [S915] Alberta, Canada, Marriages Index,1898-1942. Name: Amelia H. Ruyicka [sic] Gender: Female Marriage Date: 1917 Marriage Place: Leduc, Alberta, Canada Spouse: Richard Sykora Certificate Number: 2126 [S79] GRIEGO, Lenni, Email of 21 Feb 2007. ... married September 14, 1946.