Richard “Rich” Podtburg, 74 of Greeley passed away on Saturday, July 25, 2015 at the Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland.

He was born on March 6, 1941 in Beatrice, Nebraska to Fredrick Carl and Waunita Grace (Heyen) Podtburg.

Rich graduated from Greeley High School in 1959. He later married Phyllis Stutz on December 16, 1962 in Greeley. He started young as DHIA tester at the age of 18 and tested for 10 years until he started milking cows in 1969. He was able to acquire a herd in 1979. Then in 1984 he started his own dairy just northwest of Greeley. In years to follow, he enjoyed the farming aspect as much as the growing the dairy, especially harvesting corn and plowing. In 2000, he became the designated forage harvester operator for both haylage and silage for the dairy. He enjoyed running errands for the dairy where he built many good and lasting friendships along the way.

He loved Sunday drives in the country with his wife, looking at the fields of corn and cruising with his newly restored 72 GMC pickup.

Survivors include his wife, Phyllis Podtburg of Greeley: 2 sons and their wives, Jeff and Keli Podtburg of Greeley and Ken and Eli Podtburg of Greeley; 8 grandchildren, Rodney and wife Tiffany, Jaymie, Lyndsi, Jordan, Karissa, Megan, Mindi and Dani. 2 sisters ; Carol Brown and Ruth Horst and husband Myron all of Evans; With many additional nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Fredrick and Waunita Podtburg, a brother Virgil Podtburg and a sister, Bernadine Podtburg.

Services will begin with visitation from 6:00pm until 8:00pm on Thursday, July 30th at the Moser Funeral Service Chapel, 3501 South 11th Avenue in Evans. Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00am on Friday at the St. Paul’s Congregational Church. 1525 43rd Avenue, Greeley, CO 80634. A private family graveside services will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Memorial gifts may be made to the American Lung Association in care of Moser Funeral & Cremation Service, 3501 S. 11th Avenue, Evans, Colorado 80620.