Richard Jennings

Richard F. Jennings went home to be with Jesus peacefully surrounded by his family on August 1, 2025 at Westlake Health Campus. Born on March 27, 1936 in Highland Park, MI, he was the oldest son of Stephen and Katherine (nee Bokshan) Jennings.

He was a devoted husband, dad, grandfather and great-grandfather. In High School he worked as a meat cutter at A&P, and then at Burroughs Corp. before enlisting in the Army and serving from 1959 to 1964. While in the Army he met the love of his life on a blind date, the first of which dates, he fell asleep and missed only to have rescheduled. On November 7, 1959 he married Beverly Ann (nee Duquette) and they were married for nearly 66 years. Most of his professional life he spent working for the Hazel Park School district as a custodial engineer. He served as treasurer of the A.F.S.C.M.E Union.

Richard was a long-time member of Hazel Park Lutheran Church, serving in various behind the scenes positions from custodian to treasurer. The joke in the family was when he left to go clean the church he would often remark, “I’m going off to pray for you sinners.” While attending church every single week, when the service hit the one-hour mark, Dick would close his hymnal and fold his arms, stop singing (not that he really sang much). The service was over for him.

Dick enjoyed spending time with his family, camping (even taking the trip of a life time camping all the way up to Alaska and back), playing cards and of course cleaning. In their retirement years Dick and Bev enjoyed spending time as snow birds down at Camp Inn in Frost Proof, FL. Besides spending time with friends and family there, he enjoyed wood carving classes.

While dealing with Alzheimer’s, especially with sundown syndrome, he would need to be reminded to shower and put in his eye drops and even have his beloved Klondike bar. However, in the morning, he was up at 5am, made his coffee, pulled out his Bible and did his devotions without reminders.

He was preceded in death by his beloved daughter Kimberly Wright; his parents, Stephen and Katherine and his brother Ronald.

Richard is survived by his wife, Beverly; his son, Stephen (Jan); daughters Karen (Mike) Barnes and Katherine (Pat) Knight; grandchildren David, Kristen, Elliot, Michael, Rebekah, Brittany, Gabriel, Jordan, Luke and Landon, and great-grandchildren Grace, Luke, Isabelle, Emilia, Layla, and Wyatt.

Special thanks to everyone at West Lake Health Campus who sincerely cared for Richard as well as the staff of St. Croix Hospice who provided dignified care and genuine concern.

Funeral services from Shepherd of the Lakes, 2101 S Hacker Rd, Brighton, MI 48114 on Thursday Thursday, August 14, 2025 beginning at 11:00AM. Family and friends may gather at the church starting at 10:00AM.

The family respectfully asks for no flowers due to allergies of some family members, those who wish to remember Richard are asked to donate to Alzheimer’s Research Association or another Alzheimer’s organization.

For further information, please contact Lynch & Sons, Brighton at 810-229-2905.