Richard Buening, 61 of Green Creek, passed away peacefully at 1:20 PM on Thursday, January 24, 2019 at his home.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, January 28, 2019 at St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church in Green Creek with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon at the church with a Knights of Columbus rosary and wake service to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Catholic Charities, Right to Life or St. Mary's Church.

Rich was born on March 15, 1957 in Effingham, the son of Albert H. and Pauline (Waldhoff) Buening. He was the 8th child of a family of twelve. He graduated from Teutopolis High School where he excelled in track and cross country. Rich later attended Sparks Business College. He worked as a postman until 1979. At that time his father asked him to begin working at Buening Brothers Implements, which he did. Later, along with three of his cousins he became part owner of Buening Implements. He worked at Buening Implements in the parts department for 38 years. He liked helping the farmers that patronized Buening Implements. He was a member of St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church in Green Creek where he served as commentator and also sang in the choir. He was also a member of the Teutopolis Knights of Columbus, the Elks Club and Effingham County Right to Life. Others may remember him as being part of the Knights of Columbus chapter of the Farmers Only Club.

He enjoyed spending time with his friends and brothers and sisters and all of their families. He liked gardening, golfing and playing horseshoe and ping pong and he was a St. Louis Cardinals fan. He was a good man with a kind heart that helped his family and others unselfishly. He believed we are here to help other people and he spent his life acting on that belief.

Rich is survived by his brothers and sisters; Mary (Norbert) Brauer, Doris (Charles) Bales, George (Dorothy) Buening, Joan (Dan) Printz, Fred Buening, Larry Buening, John (Teri) Buening, Albert Buening Jr., Loretta (Bruce) Lewey, Christy (Dave) Robison and Paul (Cheryl) Buening; 14 nephews, 17 nieces, 29 great-nephews, 21 great-nieces, 2 great-great nephews and 6 great-great nieces. He was a dear son, brother, uncle and friend. He will be missed.

Rich was preceded in death by his parents and one nephew.