Richard "Rick" Anthony Navarrete, 62, of North Platte, Neb., passed away on April 12, 2022, at Great Plains Health in North Platte after a 10 year battle with cancer and kidney disease.

Rick was born March 3, 1960, to Richard Navarrete and Helen Vieyra-Sanchez in North Platte and lived in his hometown his entire life. He was a loving husband, father, papa, son, brother, friend and neighbor.

Rick and his wife, Jeanne, met when they were 15 years old, remaining at each other's side for 47 years and surrounded themselves with family and friends along the way. Jeanne took good care of him and always stood by his side.

Rick was a natural athlete as a boy and young man. When he hit a softball, it was like he was trying to knock the covering off the ball. They didn't call him "Hammer" for nothing. Rick could really work a room, too and had a smile we'll never forget.  He was a great story teller and always liked making people laugh. As his family gathered around, he could make them all burst out in laughter by breaking out the Bartman dance or slipping into a character called Annoying Man. When he wasn't bashing home runs, you would probably find him at a nearby fishing hole. He was an avid outdoorsman and especially loved (and lived) to fish and take others fishing with him.

Rick worked for the Union Pacific Railroad for 42 years as an electrician. He made many friends and has lots of good stories from there.

Rick's most endearing trait was his knack for showing people how much they were loved. This was always on display when it came to his wife, daughters and grandchildren.  He had a strong faith and loved his whole family and God with all his heart.

He is survived by his wife Jeanne Navarrete of North Platte; daughters Jennifer Navarrete (Anne Boutin) of Boulder, Colo., Amy (Zach) Weigelt of St. Robert, Mo., and Gina (Pete) Kinnaman of Thornton, Colo.; mother Helen Vieyra-Sanchez of North Platte and father Richard (Alice) Navarrete of Cheyenne, Wyo.; siblings Ron Navarrete, Ralph Navarrete, Alex (Cynthia) Sanchez, and Londa Sanchez of Lincoln, Neb.; grandchildren Maddie Navarrete, Brayden, Brooklynn and Owen Weigelt of St. Robert, Mo.; Enrique and Alonzo Nieto of Thornton, Colo.; Isla Sites of Boulder, Colo, and many other family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his paternal and maternal grandparents, step-father Alex Sanchez, mother-in-law Nancy Gardner and grandson Xavier Nieto.

Visitation will be at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home Friday April 15 ^th noon to 7pm with family present 5-7pm. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 16, at North Platte Berean Church. To honor Rick, you can donate to the American Cancer Society or Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.