Richard Green

Richard was born into a loving family, quick to tease and laugh together with his brothers, he grew up exploring the fields and lakes of Portage and Kalamazoo, searching for his next adventure. He and his brothers were often found hunting and fishing, not just for fun, but tasked with the chore of bringing dinner home to the table. Raised with things that money can't buy he learned the priceless value of relationships and quality time spent with others, a lesson he willingly shared with anyone who took the time to listen. There were times that his family had to be creative with the walls they called home, moving from a small apartment into a home with extended family which included lots of cousins to keep him company. Eventually landing on Lansing Avenue, off Portage Road near what are now the Stryker and Pfizer facilities, his Dad built a basement as foundation for their home. Richard and his brothers, Les and Roger, lived together with their parents in that small basement for 11 years while they worked with their Dad to complete the modest cape-cod style home. The bathroom was outside, or in the middle of the night a chamber pot was available. He and his brothers would get a bath once a week in a free-standing basin, sharing the same water, neither of them wanted to be the last one to bathe in it. From time to time their Dad would give them each a few cents that they used to buy their favorite candy or soda at local five and dime, or they would save up their money for the county fair each summer. He started his schooling at Washington Elementary in Kalamazoo, then on to Portage Middle School, and Portage Central High School. He loved to run track and was great at hurdles and the relay race. He had a 1939 Pontiac Coupe that he loved, paid for with $89 earned working at The Upjohn Farms for $1 per hour. In his late teen years, his father started showing signs of muscle weakness and his arm just hung limply at his side, he had been stricken by a rare familial form of ALS "Lou Gehrig's Disease". Richard and his brothers fashioned a sling for him to wear so he could continue his love of fishing and worked together as a family to help care for him as he quickly declined and died withing a few months. Later in life he lost his niece, Lisa, and his brother, Leslie, to the same terrible disease.

He met his best friend and love of his life, Nancy Makay, at his favorite hangout Flynn's Super Burger in Milwood. He often told the story of when he first saw her walk into the diner, and how the room just seemed to light up with her beautiful smile with eyes like two shining stars. On May 5, 1956, they were married. They bought their first home on Miles Avenue where they started their family, Nancy took the Upjohn provided bus to work and Richard worked at the paper mill in Parchment, Michigan. He and Nancy hardly ever argued, but when they did, it always ended with a smile or a joke and they both started laughing. They quickly outgrew that tiny home they loved and built a new house in the Little Ranches neighborhood in Parchment, where they raised their girls. Here he enjoyed taking his girls hunting with him, even trudging through several inches of snow, with his beagle "Lady" leading the way. Richard was the kind of neighbor who was always quick to help, shoveling driveways and helping with odd jobs they had around their houses. He often worked multiple jobs to make ends meet, painting, roofing, along with many hours of hard labor in an often baking-hot paper mill. When he wasn't working, he was home with his family, enjoying the simple things in life like Sunday dinners at their parents, trips to Lake Michigan beaches, camping vacations up north, and vacations to The Smokey Mountains. In 1966 he started his new job at Fisher Body General Motors where he retired 28 years later when the Kalamazoo plant was closed. During his years at GM, he made many friends and joined a golf league with them at the Kalamazoo City golf courses. He had a membership and became a very good golfer, winning many tournaments with his buddies over the years. Richard loved country western music, his daughters often woke up to hear him playing an album on Sunday mornings as he made breakfast for his girls. After work during the week, he could be found playing catch with his daughters in the yard, helping with homework, and he even found time to help coach his daughter's softball team. He and Nancy enjoyed square dancing with friends and Richard continued his love of the outdoors fishing and duck hunting with his brothers and friend Claude. Carrying on the values he was raised with, Richard's contributions to the world often could not be measured by titles and organizations, his time was spent sharing his positive outlook, his kindness, his good sense of humor, and work ethic with everyone he met. He lived the American dream, improving his quality of life through hard work driven by the love of his wife and daughters.

His daughters gave him 7 grandchildren and 2 step-grandchildren. He and Nancy rarely missed any of their activities, even sitting outside in the rain and snow to support them at football and soccer games, or indoors at basketball, wrestling, and band concerts. Later he and Nancy carried on with that same tradition for their great grandchildren. His grandkids were greeted with a great big welcoming, warm smile on his face whenever they walked into his house and remember him as a happy presence in their lives. Never one to sit still, Richard could be found hand washing his car in the early morning hours during retirement and exploring new hobbies to pass the time. He became a talented wood carver, creating many statue carvings, necklaces, and pins over the years. He enjoyed seeing the smile he received as payment when he gave them away to friends and family and was asked to carve trophies for his golf league and donated recognition statues to the Portage Fire Department. Richard and Nancy were blessed with many years of traveling together during their retired years. They loved taking cruises and later spending a couple of months during the winter in Panama City Beach, Florida with their friends.

Richard was preceded in death by his brothers, Leslie and Roger Green, and the love of his life and wife of 64 years, Nancy (Makay) Green. He is survived by his daughter Lynne (Steve) Cronkhite, Sue Ellen (Richard) Huntington, Melissa (Dave) Shufelt, his grandchildren Steven (Alexandra) Cronkhite, Shawn (Heather) Cronkhite, Joseph (Kortney) Cronkhite, Hali (Greg) Pickett-Gribler, David (Haley) Shufelt, Alexander Shufelt, Jacob Shufelt, and two step-grandchildren Rick (MeChe) Huntington, Jenn (Jess) Burnside, great grandchildren Josie, Lukasz, Kora, Nolan, Abigail, Ellyne, Sophia Cronkhite, Avery, Emma, Blake Pickett-Gribler, and step great granddaughter Madelyn Burnside.

A celebration of Richard's life will be held at Langeland Funeral Home, 3926 9th St., Kalamazoo, MI 49009 on Saturday, April 25th. Family will greet guests from 11-11:30 am, memorial service 11:30 am followed by a luncheon catered by The Ample Pantry.

Memorial donations may be made in Richard's honor to The ALS Association.

Please visit Richard's memorial webpage to share condolences and memories with his family at http://www.Langelands.com