Richard "Rich" Fletcher

Richard D. Fletcher walked on to the next world early in the morning on Thursday, December 22, 2016 in his own home. June Mamagona Fletcher, his wife and partner of more than 45 years, watched over him in the last night. They were opposites in all the right ways – he was an early riser, craved spicy food, and needed to be taught to remember birthdays and how to change diapers. But they fit perfectly together, too – building a home from the ground up and filling it with staggeringly enormous Christmas trees, shockingly loud action movies, and unusually ambitious children and grandchildren. His love for and true dedication to family was boundless.

Rich was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on April 1, 1951, a raucous boy who grew into a charmer of a man. He was a hellacious jokester and everyone remembered his birthday. He loved his mother, Honor. He was the oldest sibling in his family, and bossed around Jackie, Perry, Tim, and Robin, always with love and affection.

As a boy, Rich was a baseball and football player. As an adult, he was a demanding follower of the losing teams of Detroit, Michigan. He was satisfied only with the 1968 and 1984 World Series Champion Tigers, and remembered them as near-mythical titans of the game. The Detroit Lions, as always, were continual disappointments. He was a Michigan fan, too, especially after his children Matthew and Zeke began to attend the University of Michigan. Any year with a Rose Bowl win, a victory over Ohio State, or a Final Four appearance was a good one. He kept his Big House ticket stubs, taping them to the cabinet door.

As a man, Rich was a protector and a provider. His work ethic as a carpenter was unparalleled, and he took pride in perfection in his craft. He helped to make a home that valued education and responsibility. His boys were ballplayers like he was, and Rich went to every game he could. His grandchildren, too, are ballplayers. He sat for dozens upon dozens of baseball, basketball, and soccer games for Zeke’s children Nolan, Ben, and Laura, and Matthew’s children Owen and Emmett. Even in retirement, he worked, cultivating a prolific garden and building a tree house for his grandchildren.

Rich was a deer hunter and a fisherman. He patrolled the acreage behind the house with his bow and his gun, and occasionally brought home an unlucky buck. He fished in the Great Lakes and dipped for smelt in Carp River. His real pleasure was being outside, being quiet, and sharing a beer with his friends. He loved roaming the woods with his dog, Neekon, who followed him everywhere he went.

Rich had eclectic tastes. He loved music, and he used to play a few tunes on his guitar. His favorite was Bob Seger, and he wore down the grooves of more than one copy of Stranger In Town. But he mixed in James Taylor and Cat Stevens with Tom Waits and the Drive By Truckers. His favorite color was green, and so he added jalapeños to just about everything and made green bread and green milk on St. Patrick’s Day. He loved his beer, too, especially Miller Lite and Two Hearted IPA. His favorite movie was Jeremiah Johnson, and he more or less patiently suffered through many viewings of Star Wars imposed on him by his family.

Rich and June shared many goals, and fulfilled most of them. They sent their children to college and law school. They built a home together from the ground up. They traveled to Hawaii and the Black Hills. They saw both oceans. They lived near friends and family all their lives. They were good neighbors and believed in community. All they wanted was more time together.

Richard is survived by his wife June Mamagona Fletcher, his children Matthew Fletcher (who is married to Wenona Singel) and Zeke Fletcher (who is married to Katie Fletcher), his grandchildren Nolan, Ben, and Laura Fletcher (children of Zeke and Katie), Owen and Emmett Singel-Fletcher (children of Matthew and Wenona), his siblings Jackie Burgess (who is married to Duane Burgess), Perry Fletcher (who is married to Ilse Fletcher), Tim Fletcher (who is married to Jill Fletcher), and Robin Curtis (who is married to Mike O’Mahony). He has dozens of nieces and nephews, and many many cousins. Rich’s parents Jack Fletcher and Honor Simmons have already walked on.

Richard said he was surprised by how many people expressed their love for him. He shouldn't have been. He had given so much to so many, and was humble to the end.

Funeral services for Richard will be held at 11am Tuesday, December 27, 2016 at the Gun Lake Tribe’s Luella Collins Community Center – 419 126th Ave., Shelbyville, Michigan.

Richard’s family will meet with friends and relatives from 6-8pm Monday, December 26 at the Kubiak-Cook Funeral Home – Wayland Chapel, 312 N. Main St., Wayland, Michigan.

In honor of Richard the family asks memorial contributions be directed to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Wings of Hope Hospice or Salem United Methodist Indian Church.

The family welcomes messages and memories in their online guestbook at www.kubiakcook.com.

To view the Keepsake Video please click on the link below.

https://www.tributeslides.com/tributes/show/M4B9PP3C6RWZR4ZL