Richard Gutc

Richard was the beloved sweetheart of Orielie for over forty-five years. Loving father of Richard (Crystal) Gutc and stepfather to Kelley Bigwood and Karla (Edward) Zbikowski. Adored grandfather of Gabriella Gutc, Maxwell Popp and Robert (Melissa) Zbikowski and great-grandfather to Aurora Zbikowski. Dear Brother of Beverly (Don) Fraser, Lavonne Gutc, Timothy (Sue) Gutc and the late Frank Gutc III. He is also survived by many loving nephews and nieces.

Rick went by a few names, depending on when or how you knew him. He was born Richard, immediately started the trend of little Ricky with family. Along the way life helped him drop the y, he grew up met the love of his life, bought a bar, had a son, and was then known as Rick. Rick was a man of many talents. In his younger days he was quite the handful leaving lots of stories with lots of laughs behind. He was a skilled rough carpenter that could design and build anything your heart desired in a house. If you had the vision he could build it for you. With retirement he took on the name Big Rick which was fitting because behind the gruff was a man with a big heart.

When Rick discovered the Internet, especially eBay, the world became his oyster! At that time, he realized any hobby he wanted to pursue he could find the pieces or parts to. Upon retirement, he discovered his love for tinkering with many different hobbies. He would get an idea in his head and would not stop until he collected all the pieces. Rick loved his Chevelle and worked to rebuild that car inside and out. With the help of the internet, he learned the joy of cuckoo clocks, sausage makers, and guitars. He liked to keep his hands busy doing whatever he could. He would take things apart and spend more money trying to rebuild it than it would cost to buy it new.

Rick wouldn’t tell you that he was proud of you to your face, but he always boasted about his son, stepdaughter’s and grandkids. He would secretly save little memories and trinkets which let you know, he was proud of them and what they were accomplishing. When Rick got an idea, he was all in. He loved to cook and would buy any gadget he possibly could to cook with. Some family favorites that will be missed most are his pizza, subs, green chili burritos and city chicken.

Rick had two main women in his life, his sweetheart Orielie and his granddaughter Gabriella. When it came to these two, you could see his soft side and in his later years he became Orielie’s personal chef cooking her whatever she demanded on the fly he loved her and would look up any way to help her in any way possible. When his granddaughter came along his super soft side came out the two of them could often be found being up to mischief together. Whether it was taste testing a new dessert recipe or trying out the latest flavors of sugar sprinkles you could often find Gabriella and papa making cupcakes together. Papa catered to her every whim in the kitchen just like he did for her Grandma O. He also loved his grandsons dearly and was so proud of their accomplishments. He was known to sneak them Christmas money when no one else was looking.

Rick loved to be asked how to do things. His favorite was when his son would ask him how to build something or anything work related to the skilled trades. That would get him going on conversations where he could share his vast knowledge. Rick was always that wild card. You didn’t know what he’s going to do next or what’s going to come out of his mouth. Making any time spent with him always interesting. He had several small ways of showing he cared, while still keeping his tough exterior.

Right now we imagine he is hanging with his mom and dad and his brother Frank, who he has missed so much since they passed away. We imagine he’s got a cigarette in his mouth a white sweat band around his head, wearing a flannel and debating his next hobby.

Visitation for Richard will be held on Saturday, March 1st from 3-8pm at the D.S. Temrowski & Sons Funeral Home, 30009 Hoover Road in Warren. His Funeral Service will be held on Sunday, March 2nd at 11am at the Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers the family has asked that donations in Big Rick’s honor be made to the colo-rectal cancer foundation.

Please share memories of Richard at his guest book below.