Richard Joe Oldaker

Richard Joe Oldaker, 79, passed away peacefully on October 8, 2026. A devoted father, proud grandfather, and passionate sports enthusiast, Richard filled the lives of those around him with steadfast support, immense generosity, and an infectious competitive spirit. He was always someone you could count on—and someone who loved to win.

Born on January 4, 1947, in Kimball, Nebraska, to Lynn C. and Marcelle D. Oldaker, Richard grew up with a drive that showed early on. At Kimball County High School, he was a standout athlete whose golf records set the tone for a lifelong love of sports. Nebraska also cemented two of his favorite lifetime traditions: a soundtrack of 1960s oldies and a serious sweet tooth that sparked weekly trips to Dairy Queen—a ritual he happily kept up well into adulthood.

Richard later made his home under the desert sun in Tucson, Arizona, dedicating over 20 years to the University of Arizona as a Systems Analyst. While he always had a soft spot for snowy winter days back home, he embraced the desert lifestyle with open arms. He also made a major sports allegiance shift: originally a dedicated Nebraska Cornhuskers supporter, he converted into an ardent Arizona Wildcats fan. As a longtime basketball season ticket holder, Richard’s priority was always sharing the fun; he made sure every family member had a chance to enjoy sitting in the stands with him to soak in the energy of a live game.

Richard was an avid golfer who especially loved hitting the course to play a round with his two sons. He also had a passion for travel, checking off memorable journeys to Hawaii, Scotland, Alaska, and across the United States.

Above all, Richard’s heart belonged to his family. Extraordinarily generous with both his time and gifts, no season captured his joy quite like Christmas. He took great pride in putting up a giant tree, making sure every stocking was hung just right, and hiding cards tucked with cash among the branches for the grandkids to track down. Richard was also a notorious pushover for dogs—and every dog knew it. Though his last two companions, a chocolate lab named Java and a rescue mix named Jersey, were far from small, he treated them like oversized lap dogs and spoiled them without hesitation.

Richard is survived by his sons, Justin Oldaker and his wife Laura, and Jeremy Oldaker and his wife Rachel; his five cherished grandchildren, V'Eanna Marsden, Ethan Oldaker, Isabelle Oldaker, Emma Oldaker, and Kevin Oldaker; and his sister, Lynda Kay Forney of Grant, Nebraska. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lynn and Marcelle Oldaker.

A celebration of life will be held in November, at Mount Lemmon, with further details to be shared by the family.

Richard’s steady presence, good humor, and generous heart will be deeply missed and fondly remembered across every game day, holiday tradition, and scoop of ice cream shared in his honor.