Richard Buhr

Richard Buhr, age 52 of New Hampton, Iowa died Friday, August 14, 2020, at MercyOne Medical Center in New Hampton. A private family service will be held at a later date. Richard Buhr came into the world on Jan 31, 1968, the son of Dennis and Jean (Cole) Buhr, and he made a big impression right away, weighing 12 pounds, 3.5 ounces. He was welcomed home by his two big sisters and grew up in Tripoli, where he found a love of hunting and fishing at a young age. For those who knew Rich in adulthood, he was relatively “normal” size until his sophomore year of high school, when he hit one heck of a growth spurt that ended with him standing tall at 6 feet, 7 inches. He graduated from Tripoli High School in 1986, and he worked a number of jobs — including at IBP and Beatrice — before landing what turned out to be the most important job of his life. On his first day of working at TriMark in 1999, his “lead” in assembly was a woman named Carol Pilcher, and for him, at least, it was love at first sight. He went home that night and told his mother that he had “met the woman I’m going to marry.” The 6-7 guy with “the mullet” asked Carol out, she said “let’s be friends,” but Rich was persistent. They soon began dating, and on Sept. 16, 2000, the couple was married at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. The couple loved to go camping and fishing, and Rich built “Buhr’s Bar” on the farm where they lived. The Buhrs hosted what seemed like countless Fourth of July parties, enjoyed watching NASCAR racing and mushroom hunting. Those who knew Rich were always prepared for his shenanigans — be it poking holes in your pop cans or lining that pop with mashed potatoes during the annual Buhr Thanksgiving celebration. He loved to tell jokes, and he was a master when it came to pulling pranks. Rich and Carol did not have any children, but he was a heck of an uncle. Back before he met Carol, he’d spend hours playing — and losing — Mario Kart with his nephew and his mom always brought the boys down a milkshake. Rich also taught that same nephew how to drive … in Carol’s new pickup no less. Rich developed health problems five years ago, but he wasn’t a big believer in doctors, hospitals, and surgeries; instead, he always told Carol, “Whatever happens, happens.” He and Carol had almost 20 good years together, and she will miss his love for her, his smooth-talking, and maybe even his pranks. He will be dearly missed by all those who knew, loved, and were “pranked” by him. Richard is survived by his wife, Carol Buhr of New Hampton, IA; one sister, Pam (Kevin) Schwartz of Two Rivers, WI; brother-in-law, Wade (Renee) Pilcher of Dubuque, IA; four nieces, Jessie (Eric) Reindl, Jordan Schwartz, Mercedes Bobst, and Rachel Billmeyer; four nephews, Josh (Jessica) Frahm, Brock (Jaime) Frahm, Dane Frahm, and Dakota Bobst; one aunt, Julie Zander; along with several grand nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his grandparents and parents; one sister, Penny Bobst.