Frederick Willie

Frederick R. “Dick” Willie, age 84, of Marshall formerly of Kalamazoo, died at Marshall Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 while in the loving care of his daughter and her family. Dick was born on August 25, 1923 in Kalamazoo to Samuel and Frieda (Korzilius) Willie. He graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School. He lived in Kalamazoo all of his life until February of this year when he moved to Marshall to be near his daughter Marilyn. Shortly after that he fell ill. Dick had a career as a Manufacturing Representative for DuBois Chemicals of Cincinnati,Ohio. The company furnished water treatment chemicals and Dick’s customers were mainly restaurants and hospitals. He retired after over 30 years of service to his clients and company. Prior to DuBois he had worked for Allied Paper in Kalamazoo. After his retirement he continued to lead a busy life working for Don Seeyle Ford, Metro Toyota and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He volunteered his time at Borgess Hospital for ten years. He met Barbara Gene Bigelow of Kalamazoo on a double date with his best friend Chet and fell in love. The couple were married on January 21, 1949 (which was Barbara’s 21st birthday!) at the Cooper Congregational Church . Their marriage ended in divorce in 1982 but the couple remained friends until Barbara preceded him in death in 1995. While in his 20’s Dick was a Golden Gloves Boxer. He was a member of the AMBUCS , the Eagle Lodge and the Big Hat Club at Western Michigan University. He loved golfing and was a coin collector. Dick was a talented story teller and his family will remember his well delivered jokes! Surviving are his daughter and son-in-law Marilyn and Jeffrey Rhodes, grandson and granddaughter-in-law Ryan and Maxi Rhodes and his great-granddaughter Hailey Rhodes all of Marshall; his brother Ed (Beverly) Willie of Kalamazoo and his sister Lillian Johnston of Kalamazoo. He was preceded in death by a daughter who was stillborn, his brothers Ray J. and Allen Willie , his sisters Benita Daubenspeck and Doris Willie and his brother-in-law Lee Johnston. Friends may call at Craig K. Kempf Funeral Home, 103 E. Mansion St., Marshall on Sunday 1PM to 4PM where family will be present to greet friends and share memories . A graveside service for the family will be held at West Cooper Cemetery. Friends who wish may make memorial contributions to Marshall Nursing and Rehab Resident Council. Assistance with memorials available at Kempf Funeral Home.