Rosanne Marie Richards

Rosanne was born May 25, 1938 in Detroit Michigan, to the late Elaine Malleis Lentz and William Lentz. After completing high school she did a brief service in the United States Navy, where she met her first husband, Marion Lee Payne, a U.S. Marine, at the Great Lakes Naval Station in Chicago, Illinois. Together they had two children, James Lee and Saundra Ann.

Rosanne learned the value of hard work at a young age and had a very diverse professional life, including being a claims specialist for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, an administrator for the Wayne County Intermediate School District, and the Director of Council on Aging for Region 14, based out of Muskegon, MI. Of all the jobs she had, she loved the Aging position the most because she felt like she had the most positive impact on people’s lives.

Rosanne’s happiest years were with her husband, Wayne Richards. They married on October 12, 1980. It didn’t take long for her to grow very close to Wayne’s children from a previous marriage Steven Richards [Jackie] and Michael Richards [Lois], as well as their children and extended family.

Wayne was an outdoorsman who introduced her to the joys of hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, and boating. As they got a little older, they discovered they really enjoyed visiting casinos. After they retired, they would spend time in the winter in Laughlin, Nevada where they met many close friends. They loved having family visit them out west and especially enjoyed taking everyone around to see the local sites.

In 1990, Wayne and Rosanne retired up north to Baldwin, Michigan. It was here that she decided to pursue her love of politics and was elected Lake County Township Supervisor for 2 terms.

Rosanne was known for her love of pie-making, reading (especially suspense novels), and her love for animals. However, she will mostly be remembered for her generous heart. Whenever anyone was in trouble she was the first one to step up and help. Helping and spending time with her family was the biggest joy of her life.

Survivors include her children James Lee Payne [Deb] and granddaughter Diana Payne, Saundra Psujek [Francis] and grandchildren Jennifer and Aaron Psujek, as well as her brother John Lentz and his children Julie Rae and Jack Lentz [Jessica], her sister Shirley Buyikian and her children Kellie Brown [Tom] and Daniel Buyikian [Melissa], and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Rosanne was preceded in death by her late husband, Wayne Richards, sister-in-law Bette Lentz, and brother-in-law Norman Buyikian.

A memorial service was held in Dexter, Michigan on July 3, 2014. Cremation services have been completed.

Memorial contributions are welcome in memory of Rosanne Richards to Canine Assitants, 3160 Francis Road, Milton, Georgia 30004. http://www.canineassistants.org/cgi-bin/donations