Retired Sgt. 1st Class Richard C. "Dick" Polgreen, 79, of Junction City, Kansas, passed away Saturday, June 15, 2019, at Geary Community Hospital. Richard was born Jan. 26, 1940, in Albany, New York. He was the oldest child of Waldron and Frances Polgreen. He attended high school in Schoharie, New York. Richard's father was killed in World War II on Dec. 24, 1944, when Richard was not yet 5 years old. His father is buried in France, and Richard was able to visit his grave when his National Guard unit spent time in Germany. He was very proud of his father's military service. After graduating from high school and attending Hamilton College for a short time, he joined the military, wanting to follow in his father's footsteps. He was sent to pharmacy school at Fort Sam Houston, then stationed at Fort Riley. He later joined the Kansas Army National Guard. He thoroughly enjoyed his 30+ years in the Guard. The last ten years of his military career were spent working for the Kansas Army National Guard in Topeka. Richard met Eunice Kornelsen in 1962. They were married in 1965 and settled in Junction City. They celebrated 54 years of marriage on June 11, 2019. Richard was definitely known for his sense of humor and was often accused of being quite a character. He enjoyed making people smile. One of Richard's favorite activities was participating in the Clarke Sanders Baseball Adventure. Over the years he went on 20 trips. Richard experienced every major baseball stadium, and his favorite was the PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he could overlook the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers which form the Ohio. Richard was a member of the Church of Our Saviour United Methodist, where he faithfully played the organ as long as he was able. He served in various capacities on the Administrative Board. His faith was always very important to him. Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Waldron and Frances Polgreen and his nephew David Polgreen. He is survived by his wife Eunice and his two brothers, Henry (Shirley) of Schenectady, New York, and Tobias (Ruth) of Grand Island, Florida. He will be missed. A funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 20, 2019, at the Mass-Hinitt Funeral Chapel. Reverend Joyce Allen will officiate. A visitation will be held at 9:30 -10:30 prior to the funeral at the funeral home. Burial will follow the funeral at Kansas Veterans' Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested to be given to the Church of Our Saviour United Methodist or to the Junction City Animal Shelter. Online condolences can be left at https://www.masshinitt.com/Obituary/172910/Richard-Polgreen/Mass-Hinitt-KS