Richard Cass Waranius

Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend, Richard Cass Waranius passed away Tuesday, March 28, 2017; with his wife Leona and daughter Kymberly by his side. He passed away a week before what would have been his 88th birthday.

Richard was born April 4, 1929 at Lying-In Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. He was the only child of his parents Agnes Smaidris, and Cass Waranius.

He attended Fanger High School in Chicago, Illinois and graduated from St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy in Delafield, Wisconsin. He also attended the University of Chicago and studied business management.

He enlisted in the Illinois Air National Guard on April 10, 1947 and spent time in Korea, Japan and stateside. He was formally trained as a hydraulic mechanic and serviced the war planes. His experience in the Air National Guard is where he discovered his passion for flight and photography. In January 1951, while assigned to the 108th Bombardment Squadron, Richard was honorably discharged at the rank of sergeant.

In 1968, Richard married Leona Catherine Slyder from Baltimore, Maryland. Richard and Leona spent over 50 years together. He always said that she was the best thing that ever happened to him. She was, and always will be, the love of his life.

Richard had an entrepreneurial spirit; a trait that he received from his mother Agnes. His work ethic and social skills enabled him to engage in various activities, encompassing both his business and personal life. Richard took a vested interest in being financially secure; which led to him owning a series of motels and restaurants. Richard believed that community involvement at the local level is more effective at bringing about a positive change in their neighborhood than at any other level. The altruistic acts of both Richard and Leona in their communities could not be understated. Their involvement in their community, whether through organizing neighborhood clean-ups, or participating in local government, should be an inspiration for others to take action and leave the world a better place than when they found it.

After retiring at 50, Richard was able to focus his time on family and personal passions. Richard and Leona made the best of their retirement by traveling across the country and exploring new places. Their favorite place was Laughlin, Nevada. This was where Richard had the opportunity to spend quality time with his cousin and lifetime friend, Evelyn Hughes. He also enjoyed spending his mornings exploring the desert and taking photos and videos of the environment. Photography and video were his passion and countless hours were spent in his home office honing his craft. Richard embraced every opportunity to share his passion with others. The amount of photos and videos left behind is a testament to Richard’s ability to think ahead and preserve special memories for his surviving relatives.

Richard is survived by his wife Leona, their daughter Kymberly Cloughesy, husband Philip Cloughesy and grandchildren Paisley and Kamren Robinson; son Kenneth Waranius, wife Connie and grandson Brook; daughter Lana Ophorst, husband Case Ophorst and grandchildren Vanessa and Wiebe; daughter Sharon Waranius, grandchildren Samuel James, Ivory Rose, and great grandchild Hawthorn James; daughter Cynthia Beaver, husband Tery Beaver.