Rick Peerboom

He was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1946 to Leroy and Rosemary Peerboom. When he was 8, the family moved to a lake property in Camden, Michigan. The property had a large front yard which Rick would have to mow. He’d say later that he “never wanted to mow another lawn” in his life. And he didn’t, but he did develop a life long passion for gardening and could often be found pottering around with plants.

He attended Camden Frontier where he made life long friends before heading out to the west coast to attend Oregon State University. After a quick year his heart called him back to Michigan where he completed his degree in Spanish and graduate from Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan. Hillsdale College would remain an important place to him throughout his life for the invaluable critical thinking skills he developed there.

He went on to dabble in a variety of jobs from teaching Spanish to being a salesman at Sears before finally following in his mother’s footsteps to become a hair dresser. He enjoyed being a hair dresser and many of his dearest friends started as clients.

But his best friend was his wife, Linda Peerboom, whom he married in April 1969. They began their life together in Toledo, Ohio and then St. Louis, Missouri before coming back to Michigan where their first daughter, Melanie was born in 1974. The winters were rough and they decided to move to Florida where their second daughter, Melinda, surprised them at the age of 42 in 1989.

He was ecstatic at the birth of his grandson, granddaughter, grand niece and nephews who he adored and spoiled as much as he could. Aside from spending time with family, Rick had a variety of hobbies (too many some might say). He loved to travel and go someplace new. It didn’t even have to be in another state for him to be excited! He enjoyed so many of the places he went from Worlds Fair expos to visiting relatives in Denmark.

Rick will always be remembered for his generosity and chattiness. He never met a soul he couldn’t talk to. We couldn’t have asked for a better husband, father, brother, grandpa, uncle, or friend and will miss him dearly every day. His memory will live on in the hearts of all those who loved him.

Rick is survived by his wife, Linda Peerboom, his daughter Melanie Hevron, Melanie’s husband Bryan Hevron, their children Henry Hevron and Margaret Hevron, his daughter Melinda Peerboom, and Melinda’s husband Peyman Dadkhah, his sister Kim Morrell, and his nieces Heather Nowaczyk and Heidi Goebel, and their children Mason Gauden, Sage Gauden, Levi Gauden, and John Boyer.

Rick remained a faithful Christian Scientist throughout his life and did not want us to mourn his passing, but celebrate the living. Being committed to helping anyone he could in life, donations to St. Joseph’s Indian School, Wounded Warrior, and Operation Smile in his memory would be greatly appreciated.

Services will be held at a later time in Florida.