Harold Richard Spencer II, 86, died December 27, 2024, at Journey House in Lincoln. Richard was born July 2, 1938, in Lincoln, Nebraska to Harold and Dorothy (VanDyke) Spencer. Growing up in the Uni Place neighborhood, he graduated from Northeast High School in 1956. The summer following high school he joined the U S Navy and served four years as a musician stationed primarily in Naples, Italy. Richard graduated from the University of Nebraska with a degree in music education. He taught instrumental music in the Lincoln Public Schools and was a part time percussion instructor at the UNL School of Music in the late 1960s. For ten years he owned and operated a music store, Sound City and Century Recording Studio. Richard worked twenty-one years at the Nebraska State Historical Society, Museum of Nebraska History, as Curator of Education retiring in 2001.
His interests were history, traveling, music, gardening, computer technology, repairing old things, and canoeing/camping. His canoeing began in the 1950s with Boy Scout trips on the Platte River, Missouri River, and Canadian Boundary waters. He continued canoeing as an adult on many Nebraska rivers and the Jacks Fork River in Missouri. Camping and canoeing trips were often family events. For many years his home was the gathering place for holidays and family events.
Richard always had an entrepreneurial spirit starting in childhood when he was an award winning paper boy. As an adult, he had many ventures including the Crete Commuter, Crazy Cracker Fireworks (a family favorite), Carnival Bags and an olive oil importing company that he worked on with Italian friends.
As a percussionist and member of the Lincoln Musicians Union he played with many bands including The Mac 5, Bobby Lane, The Spencer Trio and Gene Harding. At the recording studio he pressed numerous local acts to vinyl and also recorded jingles for local businesses who advertised on radio.
He was a board member of The Friendship Force of Lincoln, Wyuka Historical Foundation, Grace United Methodist church in Crete, and the Lincoln Municipal Band. Over the years he played in the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra, Lincoln Municipal Band, UNL Marching Band, UNL Orchestra, and many local dance bands and combos. As a US Navy musician, he was stationed at the NATO base in Naples Italy for two years. He visited Italy several times later in life and traveled to many European countries.
He is survived by daughters Sibyl Spencer Hilton (Russ), Jane Spencer, Laura Spencer, Elizabeth Spencer, daughter in law Nancy Spencer and grandchildren Marcus Murray, Jessica Hanusek (Thomas), Nicholas Hilton, Samantha Spencer, Owen Grenfell, Adella Sisson and Iris Yates as well as one great grandchild and several cousins, nieces, and nephews. The Spencer family would like to thank Joe Grenfell and George Sisson for their unwavering friendship and help in care taking of Richard throughout the years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Joan Beeney, son Harold Richard Spencer lll and his longtime companion Jeanne Zwiebel.
Visitation will be held at 10 AM, Saturday, January 4, 2025, with a Memorial Service to follow at 11 AM, at Wyuka Funeral Home, 3600 “O” Street, Lincoln.
Memorials may be donated to the Foundation for Lincoln City Libraries. HERE
Dick was the first guy that I knew that was a recording engineer. We cut our first record at Sound City Studio, and the process was so fascinating to me that I later pursued recording engineering myself.
He was a great guy, and will be sorely missed by the several interest groups that he was part of.
Dick was a dear friend from high school. My husband Jim pont was his best friend they lived across the street from each other. So he became my friend too. Jim and I were in Lincoln in June and were able to stop by and see him for several hours. That was so special . Jim told me a funny story when Dick walked in his house with a double mowhawk. And his mom screamed so loud that Jim could hear her from Jim’s house.
Dick Spencer was my first employer at Sound City.
I can remember nothing but good things about him.
I still have the fretless bass guitar he sold me back in 1970.
I wish him well in heaven and send condolences to his family.
He will be in my thoughts!
I first knew Dick from Sound City a music store he owned. I remember him playing for Chuck Berry when he played in Lincoln. I went to a reception and found out it was for my cousin, Janet Jeffries, and his wedding reception. Spent several afternoons playing music with them. He was a talented musician but was good at all his pursuits. A great man with a great life.
We were privileged to know Richard through the Friendship Force. He was so kind and his smile will always be remembered. He gave wonderful tours of the Museum of Nebraska History. In addition to being so much fun as a fellow traveler, I appreciated his helping me out with the Italian language AND on the pesky computer! Richard mastered the intricacies of technology earlier and better than most of us mortals! Deepest sympathy to his family.
Mr. H.R. “Dick” Spencer was a talented Musician, Teacher, Composer, Audio/Video Recording and Production Engineer, Merchant, Businessman, Inventor, Innovator, Employer and valued Friend. But most of all, he was a “Good Guy.” And sometimes, being truly worthy of the title of “A Good Guy” is the very best eulogy that any man can earn in his lifetime. Thanks for everything, Mr. Spencer. We all owe you a lot.
I knew him while we both worked at the Nebraska State Historical Society. One very memorable event was a staff picnic (I think)and he bought his drums. He played the most amazing version of “Wipe Out.”
Fabulous musician and very talented.
I met Dick when my family moved from Hubbell to Lincoln in June 1952, shortly after I graduated from the eighth grade. We lived just across the street from the Spencer family and we became good friends as well as high school classmates. We shared an interest in music and ended up in a small non union dance band composed of high school and college students. Given Dick’s interest in cars and all things mechanical, he purchased a used multi seated hearse to which we attached a small equipment trailer and travelled to our dance jobs. After college, Dick pursued music in the Navy and I moved to Washington for a government job, but we continued to maintain some contact, especially after he returned to Lincoln and assumed a leadership role in our alumni group while it was still large enough for periodic reunions.
We were in Lincoln for family gatherings in late June 2024 and we went to see Dick shortly after he had entered home hospice care. During our conversation he said, “Well I think I will make it to 86.” From his wry smile and our 70 plus years of friendship, I should have sensed the set up, but I didn’t, and asked when that was. His answer, “In two days,” was classic. We returned two days later with a birthday balloon and a final farewell for a true friend and genuinely authentic person, Dick Spenser!