//cdn.lifestorynet.com/fh/obituary-default.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/fh/obituary-default.jpgObituary
Richard (Dick) Rajkovich, 82, of Kalamazoo & Mattawan passed away on July 25th, 2024 at Medilodge of Kalamazoo. Dick was born in southwest Michigan, the son of William and Oletta Rajkovich. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees in Education from Western Michigan University. He was a devoted elementary teacher for Portage Public Schools for 43 years and led the PEP gifted-talented program from 1978 to 2006 from which he enriched and influenced hundreds of his students lives. The multiple generations of students within this program will forever be his endearing legacy.
Dick was a member of St. Joseph & St. Monica Catholic Churches and the Portage, Michigan, and National Education Associations. He enjoyed playing golf and softball where he was a well-known pitcher in the Portage Church league for over 25 years. Dick was creative and inventive, as his talents help stage three of the past diocese's cabarets. He filled his summertime with house projects and honed himself into a trade smith mainly in carpentry work. He enjoyed helping others as a reliable handyman with woodworking, wallpapering, painting, and plumbing, but he took a greater pride in building two historical reproduction homes. Additionally, Dick dedicated himself to his community by running for State Representative in 2012.
On April 15, 1967 in Kalamazoo, Dick was united in marriage to the former Colleen Hutchinson who survives. Also surviving are three children, Stephen Rajkovich, Matthew (Stephanie Harris) Rajkovich, Anne Rajkovich (William Schippers); sister, Mary Jane (Stephen) Nohren; several nieces & nephews. He was preceded in death by a sister, Nancy Johnson in 1964.
Friends and guests will be received 5-8 p.m. on Aug 27th at the Adams-Redmond Funeral Home of Kalamazoo, 4100 S. Westnedge, and again at 10-11 a.m. on Aug 28th at St. Joseph Catholic Church prior to the 11 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial service. A reception with food and refreshments will follow the service. Interment will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery with a private ceremony at a future date. www.redmondfuneralhomes.net
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked friends to donate to one of the four charities in Dick's honor:
Portage Education Foundation
www.portageeducationfoundation.org
National Association for Gifted Children
Parkinson Foundation