Richard "Dick" Breiding, 95, of North Hill passed away peacefully at home on October 14.

When your life starts as a farm boy on North Hill in 1928 and stretches across the Korean War (his mom swore the helmet caused his baldness), marrying a local girl and raising 12 children, you're going to store up some interesting anecdotes. But he was more than the sum of those stories. Although he was a loving, devoted son, he also moved outhouses in the middle of the night, talked his little sisters, Norrie and Annie, into being tossed down the steps in a crate and tried getting out of early cow milking with his little brothers, Dave and Lenny (he would only eat cereal with the real deal cream). His father, Leonard, was his lifelong role model and his mother, Grace, always had his favorite treats no matter his age. Although Mom and Dad knew each other their whole life, they officially started dating on a blind date on which Dad thought he was going out with our Aunt Winnie. Thank goodness for that mistake – Liz and Dick were married for 69 years – still held hands and renewed their vows at every wedding and she got the first sip of every glass of pop. Dad and Mom started their life and then he went to serve in the Army 10 days later (always understated about his service) but not before they decided they were going to have 10 children – bonus 2 happened anyways! His love letters to mom during the war always ended with a plea for dry socks – a lifelong obsession with dry feet was the result. While working at the post office, he started the Breiding Lawn Service – thus began the early wake up hours, the 60 hour weeks and our weekend drives to go see the properties he cared for. He helped build the house he raised his family in – much appreciate for his contractor cousin's skills – Dad wasn't the handiest guy but nothing duct tape or bright paint couldn't solve. Dad was so proud of that bright yellow house on Creighton Avenue! They lived across the street from Christ the King Catholic Church and School – his Catholic faith was a mainstay for him and his family. Dad played softball on the Christ the King team, was the president of the Holy Name, running fish fries and playing poker with the fellas after the clean-up. He was so proud that he and mom were able to send their kids to Christ the King and St. Vincent – St. Mary schools. He woke up the kids for early morning rosary and slept through many Hail Marys and Our Fathers – "decade" was a relative term – it was whatever he was awake for and the kids never pointed that out! Weekly mass was required and when he woke up, he'd look down the pew and wake up the boys. Mass attendance was rewarded with breakfast at Jack Horners, where it felt like everyone in the city of Akron knew our Dad. The kids would cringe throughout mass as he sang the loudest (he was tone deaf and literally, deaf, and was always one word or two behind), but he'd get the most excited when they played "Horse and Rider". The road to Emmaus was his favorite story and he most strongly related to Paul and his struggles with faith.

Our childhood was marked by taking turns going to his Midway bowling league, winter time lunch specialties by dad (egg on toast), glasses of water on our heads to wake up, goofy windup toys for our birthdays, back of the pickup rides, trips to Orrville for mulch and gas station treats, Swenson's and Kentucky Fried Chicken deliveries at the end of long swimming days at Munroe Falls, the absolute knowledge that we would get end of day Friendly's if we saw Dad's pick up pull into Munroe Falls, the daily phone call for milk and the ensuing frustration when he got the inevitable busy signal, his frustration with all the aforementioned milk spilling at every dinner and his ability to spill every glass at the table with a single pound of the table, single roses delivered to his daughters, daughters-in-law, granddaughters (especially on Mother's Day), cringy toasts and speeches at family events, greeting friends and dates at the door in his boxers, Krispy Kreme donuts (he knew the owners of all the local donut shops), trips to Henry Bierce, teaching us poker and euchre games (got frustrated when mom never knew trump), yearly trips to Daytona Beach, getting ice cream to celebrate buying new cars and hiking at Sand Run.

He was always amused by the goofy antics of Timmy, Billy, Pete, Tommy and Joey but less amused by the middle of the night calls, "Well, Mr. Breiding, I have your son here…" His girls, Kathy, Winnie, Elizabeth, Chris, Bridget, Mary and Annie made up for the grief the boys caused.

His children passed on so many of these traditions to their 41 grandchildren and 25 great children. Dad may have been proud of his children, but he was most proud of his grandchildren and loved teasing them. They loved "crazy" grandpa and all his antics – "Prizes" from his curb shopping and rainy day garage sales with Grandma (usually painted bright green with stickers typically misspelling their names). He loved the babies – he'd hold the babies in ways that scared every new mom but always held them close, although we all probably have one arm longer than the other (he had an accident when they had 6 children that left him with limited use of one arm and he just never complained and it didn't stop him from doing just about anything).

He read voraciously and loved history and understood its impact on things happening today. He was most happy outside in his garden. He loved a good game of poker but couldn't stand the new fangled games Bill and his friends played, "let's play real poker." He loved and tolerated all the teasing from his Donohoe brothers-in -law (Ray, Pete, Chuck, Jack and Bill) while bowling, golfing and going out for family dinners. He loved the Guardians and took the older kids to Municipal Stadium, but probably hated the Yankees even more! He accepted the fate of the Browns every season and was surprised when they won.

Life wasn't simple or easy, but neither was Dad and now he's back with Mom. But he would tell you his greatest accomplishment were his children, especially his favorite…

He was lovingly cared for by those children, but not without the incredibly loving support of his caretakers, Cheryl, Lisa, Joyce, Danielle and Rachel. The Breiding family cannot thank you enough for all the time and care you gave to our dad.

Calling hours will be on Thursday from 10 to Noon at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church (300 E. Tallmadge Ave.) where Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Noon. Burial of ashes, with Military Honors will take place on November 3, 2023 at 9:15am at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Seville, Oho.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to Blessed Trinity Church.