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Dick Everett

April 16, 1925 - December 14, 2015
Portage, MI

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Ambati
1830 S. Westnedge
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
(269) 349-4961
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Age 90, died peacefully December 14, 2015 at Fountain View of Portage. Dick was born at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo April 16, 1925 the son of Merle and Ruth (Root) Everett. He graduated in 1943 from Kalamazoo Central High School. He was a BSA Eagle Scout and a member of the Order of the Arrow. He was drafted into the Army in 1943 and he served in the 13th airborne as a paratrooper and saw action in France being awarded the Battle Star. He also spent time in England. After WWII he was honorably discharged, and joined the Navy. He served in the reserves until 1959. In the late 40’s he was a Michigan State Police trooper. In 1951 he became a firefighter for the City of Kalamazoo (pre PSO). He spent many years at Station #3 located at that time at the corner of Sherwood and Charlotte Sts. After the Lew Hubbard fire, he was over exposed to smoke and had to retire. He was a volunteer on the Eastwood Fire Department (Kalamazoo Township Station #2) He ran his own bookkeeping and tax service on the side through the 80’s. He worked at the Fisher Body plant when it was opened in Kalamazoo. He later went to work for the Upjohn Company, working in the shipping/receiving department (as had his father) until his retirement in 1990. After his retirement he went back to work (on request) working security for Charles Services. In later years he attended Center Street Church of God, also helping to teach Sunday school. Dick was preceded in death by his wife, Juanita on October 16, 2011. He is survived by three children: Richard II “Rick” (Deb) Everett of Kalamazoo, Michael (Carmen) Everett of Delton and Carleen (Kurt) Bauer of Holland; 7 grandchildren: Richard III “Chip” (Kristin) and Stephen Everett, Nicholas (Shannon), Gregory (Lisa) Everett and Emilee (Harley) Miller, Audrey and Dana Bauer. Dick has 7 Great Grand Children: Dalton (19), Isaac (10), Emma (4), Richard IV “Rich” (2), Claire (6mos), Allie (2) and Mack (2mos). He is also survived by his step-son Tim (Jill) Bastianse of Fennville and step granddaughter Kairee (Adam) Thayer of Kalamazoo. Surviving are six nephews: Jerry (Terri), Daniel (Susan), Patrick (Shirley), Michael J Everett, David and Timothy Bogue. He is predeceased by his brother and sister in law; Jerald (Helen), his sister and brother in law; Elizabeth “Betty” (Vic) Nickerson. Surviving is his first wife Alice Stieber. A special thanks to the staff at Fountain View of Portage for their care and attention over the last year. Per his request his body was donated for medical study and was accepted by the Western Michigan Homer Stryker School of Medicine which is appropriate as he attended Western Michigan Normal School (now University). Burial and Memorial services will be scheduled at a future date. Visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a memory, sign his guest book or upload photos. Memorials may be made in his name to Talons Out Honor Flight (program to send vets to the Washington D.C. war memorials) P.O. Box 280, Portage, MI 49024; to Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675 or Centre Avenue Church of God, 1917 E Centre Avenue, Portage, MI 49002. Life Story Funeral Home – Betzler, 6080 Stadium Dr. (269-375-2900).