Obituary of Richard Douglas Liles

Never let a family member's car back out of the driveway without offering one more piece of advice and one more "I love you."�It's that kind of thing that characterized the life of Richard Douglas Liles, who passed on to Heaven on August 11, 2020. It's that spirit that will be carried on by his wife, Joni; his sons, Jason and Patrick; his daughters-in-law, Lisa and Niki; and his grandchildren, Gabrielle, Chloenoelle, Patrick, and Collin.�In addition to his wife, kids, and grandkids, Richard is survived by his younger siblings, Jerry, Aliene, and Patricia.His life taught us other lessons too, of course.�Don't pass up the chance to play another game of ping-pong, don't stop playing volleyball even when you're deep into your sixties, and don't stop playing golf until you literally can't play anymore. Play is important.Become a Volunteer Coach for the YMCA. It doesn't pay anything and it's often thankless, but you help to make a generation of kids better in ways that go way beyond being good at a sport, and they'll remember you fondly forever.Never let a Packers game go by without turning it into a family get together.When they give you more change than they should have, return it.When you see a stray, care for it.Richard was a Christian minister for most of his life. He was a youth minister for much of that time and was known for his ability to conduct a fine funeral. Richard shepherded congregations in Plainfield, Illinois; Wauwatosa, Wisconsin; and Hutchinson, Kansas, bringing the Light to thousands and inspiring many to become ministers. All and every were always welcome, and when the phone rang at 2:00AM because someone who needed help saw his number in the ad for the church in the phone book he'd rise, put his coat on and go into the night to help.When he retired, he was a substitute teacher at elementary schools in Colorado Springs for a while. In that capacity he befriended the friendless and bolstered the bullied. At the end of one day a little boy gave him a note: "You're my best friend."When the first grandchild was on the way Richard dropped everything so that he could raise his second wave of kids. He and Joni joyfully cared for and loved and nurtured a world-class flock of grandchildren. They frequented the parks and playgrounds and laughed and played and joked and smiled.Richard was a man completely devoted to his family. He taught, hugged, drove, healed, listened to, cared for, and advised us. Most of all, he loved us.One of his parishioners�once said that "No one," was as good a person as Richard Liles. Every boy, every man, every person deserves to hear that their Dad is a good person and know it to be true. Thanks, Dad, for being one of the Good Guys.