Richard Alan Kearnes

Richard Alan Kearnes, 69, passed away on Saturday August 3rd 2019. He was born on August 23rd 1949 in Fort Wayne, IN & attended Southside High School. Later in life, after the service to his country, he attended and graduated with an Associate’s Degree from Purdue University.
If he had to pick an age to pass, he would have said “69 fits me just fine”. For those who knew him, you know what he meant. He was a one of a kind man with the most fantastic sense of humor who loved & lived life to the fullest.
He had a great heart & surrounded himself with the best of people because he was the best of people. At times, his patience wasn’t the greatest but he always did the best he could with what he had. He loved great music, some of his favorites were The Cars, Def Leppard, Jackson Browne (especially his song “Of Missing Persons”), Hall & Oates & The Fray’s “How To Save A Life”. He also loved great movies, citing “We Were Soldiers” & “Full Metal Jacket” as being the closest to his Vietnam experience. He always enjoyed a glass of good red wine, Kendall Jackson was one of his favorites or Glenlivet Scotch.
He was an avid Indianapolis Colts fan, especially during the Tony Dungy / Peyton Manning era. He was a ladies man, a man’s man & the Disco King of Fort Wayne 1978 & 1979 despite overcoming his traumatic disability that occurred while he was in the army. He proudly served his country with the Black Horse 11th Armored Calvary during the Vietnam War from 1967-1968.
He was a recipient of the Purple Heart Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal.
He had a wonderful sense of compassion, artistry & humor that is unmatched by anyone else. He was also an expert Euchre player although he would never admit it. He could kick almost anyone’s ass at that game. He loved classic Las Vegas where he spent his final days. He was a beautiful man & spirit who was always about fun, good times and is now most likely cracking people up in the great beyond.
He is survived by his son Sean, daughter Micah, wife Wendy, brother Steve, grand daughters Anna & Grace and step daughters Natalie & Nicole.
He is proceeded in death by his parents Carl & Alice, brother “Bud” and sister Patty. A memorial service will be at the Southern Nevada Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City Thursday at 2 pm. Donations to be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.