Richard Dean Janovec, 71, of Topeka, passed away Thursday, August 4, 2022.

Known by many as Richie, he was born September 7, 1950, in Yankton, South Dakota, the son of Delmar L. and Charlotte A. (Dotter) Janovec. He was a graduate of Manhattan High School, Class of 1968, in Manhattan, Kansas and soon after he earned his Barber’s Certificate in Topeka.

Richard worked for many years as a self-employed barber, beginning in Manhattan, Kansas in the 1970s followed by western Kansas in the 1980s and then southern Ohio in the 1990s. Some of his clients still say they’ve never had such a fine haircut as the ones that he gave them “back in the days.” For a period of time Richard also enjoyed working skilled labor in construction, which led him to Ohio where he lived during the 1990s before returning to and eventually retiring in the Topeka area.

Richard was a member and lineal descendent of the Santee Sioux Tribe of Niobrara, Nebraska. He is survived by his five children, John P. Janovec, Jared A. Janovec, Jerome B. Nuss, Josie Rader, and Jessica Ridgeway; six grandsons Morgan, Avery, Kohle, Silvestre, Garvie, and William; his mother, Charlotte A. Janovec; a niece, Karen (Wagner) Ryan, raised from a young age by his parents; and elder brother, Delmar A. Janovec. He was preceded in death by his father.

At times Richard was reminiscent of a wild buffalo roaming the rolling plains, leaving his trail behind. He was a free-spirited, enigmatic, adventurous human being who liked to live on the edge from where he observed and touched the lives of many people, young and old. He held near and dear to his heart the close friends he knew going back to his youth, and they were often the subjects of fine stories rich in personal memories he shared as he aged.

Richard was talented as a young musician, playing both the accordion and saxophone during junior high and high school. He also showed considerable artistic abilities, especially drawing and painting, and he enjoyed writing letters and poems throughout his life.

Richard loved to play baseball and he excelled at it. As a teenager he pitched at least one no-hitter as a member of the American Legion team in Manhattan. As a young adult he played for fun in city softball leagues. In his retirement he could often be sighted watching and cheering on games at the Hummer Baseball Park in Topeka, Kansas, where he also volunteered some of his time in retirement.

Richard became a skilled pool shark over the years and was known to “lose track of time” as he ran the table on you. In his later years, he enjoyed collecting interesting objects, such as antique straight razors and barber’s scissors, baseballs, and tools. He also seemed to cherish passing time at the Topeka Zoo where he visited his favorite animals, from captive monkeys he enjoyed observing to the wild squirrels and birds who ate bread and crackers from his fingers. Toward the end of his life, he talked about his friend “Red,” a local Red-Tailed Hawk.

Richard was not one to sit around in retirement. He was known to participate in long-distance running competitions, such as 5k races in Topeka. In his final years he enjoyed walking long and far around Topeka as he met and influenced a diversity of people along his path.

Honoring his request, cremation is planned. A memorial graveside service will be held on Friday, August 26, 2022 at 10:00 AM at the Prairie Home Cemetery, Topeka, KS. Dove Cremations and Funerals, Southwest Chapel is assisting the family. Memorial contributions may be made to Friends of the Topeka Zoo.

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