Richard Molen

Richard "Dick" Vander Molen went to be with his Lord on Tuesday, March 10. He loved Jesus, his family, his church and Bronson Methodist Hospital (BMH). He was a man of tremendous faith and a wonderful sense of humor. He was born on July 17, 1929, to Abraham and Effie (DeBoer) Vander Molen, the youngest of their 10 children, at BMH. He was a lifelong member at First Reformed Church until its closing, when he became a member of 2nd Reformed Church. At First Reformed, he served many years as a Deacon and Elder, and he and his wife, Betty, sponsored the Senior High Youth Group for over 20 years. Dick was employed at BMH for 41 years and retired as Director of Plant Operations in 1986. After his retirement, he continued to be involved at Bronson serving as a volunteer for 31 years. His love of BMH was well known, and he was proud to be called "Mr. Bronson". In 2005, he wrote a book, The Bronson I Knew, Gone…but Not Forgotten. Dick was an avid fan of the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions and WMU Broncos. Dick discovered golf in retirement and organized a weekly golf and breakfast group with many of his life-long friends. For over 20 years, Dick and Betty served as volunteers with the Vineyard Outreach Ministries Kids Club. In 1999, Dick was the recipient of the Star Award presented by the Kalamazoo Gazette for Senior Volunteer. In 2000, Dick and Betty received the Glowing Embers Award from the Girl Scouts. In 2009, they received the Star Award for Community Leadership. Dick met Betty "Boop" Gosling when she was a student nurse at Bronson. They were married on May 10, 1952, and enjoyed nearly 67 years of marriage until Betty's death in 2019. They raised 3 children at the home Dick and his brother-in-law built in 1956 in Parchment: Cheri, Craig (Jayne), and Steve (Rose Mary). Dick was preceded in death by all his siblings: brothers James, Andrew and Edward, and sisters Florence Matson, Elsie Hamilton, Esther Van Eck, Alice Stanton, Gertrude Nap, and Evelyn Vander Molen. In addition to his children, he is survived by in-laws, Mary Gosling and Shirley and Paul Moore, step grandchild Jamie Burkhardt, 3 great grandchildren: Rylie, Tamsyn and Cayden, and numerous nieces and nephews. Dick also leaves behind "adopted" grandkids Cassandra Chambliss, and the kids from the Hougland, Rathbun, Beachy and Bontrager families. A private burial was held at Mt. Ever-Rest Memorial Park, North. A Celebration of Life service will be held on April 15, 2026, at 11:00 AM at Second Reformed Church, 2323 Stadium Dr, Kalamazoo, MI 49008, with an hour to visit with the family from 10:00-11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Bronson Health Foundation, 2nd Reformed Church Kalamazoo, Park Village Pines or Centrica Care Navigators. Please share memories or condolences with his family at

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