Funeral Services for Richard Lester Korasick of Monett, MO, formerly of Elsberry, MO will be at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Rev. Todd Korasick, pastor of Monett Community Church, will officiate. Burial with Full Military Honors will be in Oak Ridge Cemetery near Elsberry. Serving as pallbearers will be Dale Hammontree, Max Rockwell, Leon Toeniskoetter, Larry Black, Bill Watts, Ben Houston and Ronnie Cordsiemon.
Richard, 81, was born on September 3, 1944 in St. Louis, MO, the son of Lester Anton and Catherine Edna Asimont Korasick. He passed away Friday morning, May 1, 2026 at the Missouri Veterans Home in Mount Vernon, MO. Richard was a 1962 graduate of Kirkwood High School and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education in 1966 from Northeast Missouri State College in Kirksville, MO. He was united in marriage on June 8, 1968 in Elsberry to Linda Lee Bowles. This union was blessed with three sons: John, Todd and David.
He served his country during the Vietnam War in the U.S. Air Force at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX from August 11, 1969 until he was honorably discharged as a Sargent on August 10, 1973. Richard and Linda raised their family in Elsberry where they were active members of the Elsberry United Methodist Church. Richard was employed for many years as an elementary teacher in the Hazelwood School District. During that time, he earned his Master’s Degree in 1978 from Lindenwood College in St. Charles, MO. Richard retired from teaching in 1998. During their years in Elsberry, Richard served several terms as City Alderman in Ward 1. They moved to Columbia, MO in 2001 for a short time, returning to Elsberry in 2007. Richard again served his community as Alderman of Ward 3 and as the Mayor of the City of Elsberry from 2010 – 2012. Richard and Linda moved to Monett to be near family in 2021.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Lester and Catherine Korasick.
Survivors include his beloved wife of almost 58 years, Linda Korasick of Monett; their three sons: John Korasick and his wife, Candace, of Jefferson City, MO, Todd Korasick and his wife, Rebecca, of Monett, and David Korasick and his partner, Matthew Huffman, of San Diego, CA; four grandchildren: Micah Korasick, Katherine Korasick, Joseph Korasick and his wife, Addyson, and Conan Korasick; and one great-grandchild on the way. Richard also leaves one brother, Randy Korasick and his wife, Debra, of Ponte Vedra, FL; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Monday, May 4, 2026 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Memorials may be made to the Elsberry United Methodist Church in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 South 5th Street; Elsberry, MO 63343. Online condolences may be made at www.carterricksfuneralhome.com.