Richard "Dick" Festerling

Richard "Dick" Festerling, age 83 of Kalamazoo, died on December 8, 2023. He was born on February 14, 1940, in Petoskey, Michigan, one of four sons of K.C. and Eleanore (Rich) Festerling. Dick graduated from Petoskey High School and had many years of college. He was an engineer and worked on the space shuttles that went into orbit. On June 3, 1972, he married Shirley Malinowski and they shared nearly 50 years of marriage, until her death in 2022. He loved her children as his own and had his own two daughters as well. Shirley and Dick enjoyed ballroom dancing and socializing at the Portage Eagles Lodge and the Kalamazoo VFW Hall. His family includes his children: Stephen (Pam) Moore, Cynthia (Steve Wightman) Rose, Valerie McWilliams and Jennifer (Jonathan) Stout; her grandchildren: Daniel, Melanie, Aidan, Alec, Adler, and Charlotte; his brother Dennis Festerling and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Shirley, and his brothers Donald and Jerry Festerling. Friends may visit with his family on Saturday, January 13, from 12:00 PM-1:00 PM at Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Burial & Cremation Services, 411 East Centre Avenue, Portage, MI, 49002, where a memorial service will be held following the gathering at 1:00 PM. Please visit Dick's personalized web page to sign the online guest book or leave a message for the family at www.langelands.com