Rich was a pharmacist at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Detroit , MI, Milwaukee, WI, and Minneapolis, MN. Including his military service, Rich spent 35 years serving veterans. He was a patriot who loved his country and was proud of the time he spent in the Army.
Rich was an avid outdoorsman. He loved to hunt deer, pheasant, and grouse. He enjoyed fishing and especially loved the Boundary Waters and time “up north”. He taught his daughters to fish, cross country ski, appreciate nature, skeet shoot, sail, canoe, and camp. They learned to leave the world a better place than how they found it. He showed them by example a strong work ethic, to do what is right, loyalty to God, family, and country. He was quiet, contemplative, kind, and thoughtful, with just a little snark and wit thrown in. He loved his family, his wife, his daughters, his grandchildren, and his birds. It is an understatement to say went to war with squirrels that stole the bird food!
He coached the girls’ softball teams, and always cheered them on in their individual pursuits; whether writing, art, speech or sports. He was a strong encourager of education and always doing your best. Rich loved to read and was a history buff. He was certainly the guy you would want on your team to play trivia games! He treasured friendships and really enjoyed playing cards with friends.
In the past 10 years he was able to travel with Buffy to over 18 countries around the world. He especially enjoyed Europe and had just returned from Hawaii before being hospitalized in mid-March.
He really enjoyed the history of photography and collecting cameras from all over the world. He had a passion for still photography of nature; and doorways in Europe. He has one of the largest antique camera collections in the state.
His faith was steadfast, and he instilled in his family faith and trust in Jesus. He enjoyed Bible studies and learning and debating. He went on three mission trips to Haiti and came back humbled by the faith he witnessed in such an impoverished nation. He was the best Dad, faithful husband, and loyal friend. He will be forever missed. We look forward to seeing him again.
