Richard Kenneth Marsh

Richard (Rick) Kenneth Marsh

April 27, 1954 – March 12, 2026

Shelby Township, Michigan

Richard (Rick) Kenneth Marsh, age 71, of Shelby Township, passed away peacefully on March 12, 2026. Born on April 27, 1954, in Pontiac, Michigan, Rick lived a life marked by devotion, curiosity, faith, and a gentle kindness that touched all who knew him.

Rick grew up in Pontiac with his parents, Oliver Kenneth Marsh and Mary Agnes (Evon) Marsh, along with his brother and sister. When General Motors purchased their neighborhood, including their home on Beverly Street, the family moved to Waterford. Rick attended Waterford-Kettering High School, where he earned his letters in tennis and graduated in 1972.

Rick's love of learning shaped him from a young age. He attended Michigan State University in East Lansing and later studied at Michigan Tech University in Houghton, where one of his areas of study was forestry - a passion that eventually blossomed into his lifelong love of bonsai. He continued his education at Macomb Community College, studying automotive design, which guided the next chapter of his career.

Faith played a central role in Rick's life. He served in church security and participated in mission work that took him around the world. He performed medical mission work in Africa, where he especially loved spending time with the children. His service also brought him to Italy, Cuba, and ultimately to Jerusalem, where he experienced the profound honor of being baptized in the Jordan River.

Rick began his almost 50-year career at General Motors in security, where he worked for about 20 years. After completing his studies in automotive design, he transferred to the Warren Tech Center. In a meaningful twist of fate, he was later assigned to GM Powertrain - located on the very spot of land where his childhood home once stood on Beverly Street. During his career, Rick earned several patents, reflecting his creativity, intelligence, and dedication.

On September 7, 1997, Rick married the love of his life, Lynn Carol Irish, at Devils Ridge golf course in Oxford, Michigan. Their marriage was a beautiful partnership built on devotion, laughter, and the kind of everyday tenderness that defined Rick - including the simple, loving ritual of making and bringing Lynn coffee every morning during their working years.

Rick and Lynn shared a deep love for Great Danes, fostering and rescuing many over the years - sometimes having as many as four at once. Clementine was his favorite, though he truly loved them all.

Rick enjoyed a wide range of hobbies. He was an avid sportsman who loved shooting, especially sporting clays with friends from DIG. He excelled in skeet shooting, winning several trophies. Golf was another passion; he played in both GM and church leagues, and one memorable year, he and a few friends golfed all year long. Rick belonged to Trout Unlimited and did charity work with them. He was an avid fly fisherman and traveled throughout the US to catch fish as well.

Books were one of Rick's lifelong loves. From the moment he learned to read, he devoured stories, collected books, and eventually sold them through his own venture, 4WeirdBooks.

His studies in forestry at Michigan Tech evolved into a deep passion for bonsai, and he became an active member of the Four Seasons Bonsai Club of Michigan, nurturing living art with patience and care - a reflection of his own spirit.

Rick will be remembered for his gentle presence, his unwavering kindness, generosity and the way he made others feel valued and understood. His life was rich with purpose - in his work, his faith, his hobbies, and most of all, in the love he shared with Lynn and the many lives he touched.

His memory will continue to be a source of comfort, inspiration, and love to all who knew him.

Marsh's Celebration of Life Service will be held on March 20, 2026, at 12:00 noon, with a gathering beforehand from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.