Ryszard E. Kasprzak

Deacon Ryszard Kasprzak was born on September 2, 1944, in the Village of Spital in Austria. Ryszard, who resided in Dearborn, Michigan, passed away unexpectedly on November 7, 2025, at home at the age of 81. Beloved husband of Elizabeth. Loving father of Veronica and Victoria. Dear brother of Zygmunt (Janice), Chester (Maria), Robert (Amy), Fred (Geralyn), and Genevieve (Phil). Dearest Grandfather to David and Paige Defoe. Ryszard was proceeded in death by his parents, Waleria and Tomasz Kasprzak.
Rick served in the US Army and then the National Guard for many years, and was a proud employee of the Ford Motor Company. He is described by friends and family as truly one of a kind; an Icon, Hero, a True Original. Irascible, cantankerous, opinionated, fiercely loyal, a red, white and blue American with a stubborn Polish streak. He loved to travel and see the country, spending the most time in the Outer Banks, Florida, out west and "up north" in Grayling, Farwell, and Clare, always with family and dear friends. He was also a father to many pets over the years, all of whom he loved dearly, and spoiled rotten, feeding parts of all of his meals to those pets who knew who to sit by at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as all the pies, cookies, cake, and ice cream in between.
He had a lasting impact on the young people that he met and welcomed into his home, whether by talking, lecturing, teaching life lessons, cleaning his guns with a daughter's boyfriend (oh yes, he did this more than once), orchestrating the building of a deck, the repair of a roof and other such household tasks that were delegated to the "willing" and frequent "NOT BUSY" kids at the house. After retiring, Richard spent a lot of time with his grandchildren, playing "basket butt" and dripping ice cubes on their faces when they refused to get up in the morning before getting them to school. He and his loving wife and grandmother Elizabeth took them up north and on vacations, telling his corny jokes to all, and brightening up the lives of everyone he met along the way. When the grandkids were older, he went on a different journey, taking classes and becoming a Deacon to serve the Lord in the best way he knew how. Married to the love of his life, Liz, for 57 years, he would still buy her flowers and take her hand in his and kiss it for no reason at all.
His daughters describe him as "The Dad that everyone wants to have but they were the lucky ones."
Richard was a selfless, thoughtful, and generous man as anyone who knew him could tell you, but most of all,
he was a loving husband, father, and friend.
Visitation will take place Wednesday, November 12, 2025 from 2:00-8:00 p.m. at the Dearborn Chapel of Voran Funeral Home, 23701 Ford Road. (313) 278-5100. Military Honors and Rosary service 5 p.m. Wednesday evening at the funeral home. In state Thursday 10:00 a.m. with a 11:00 a.m. Mass of the Resurrection to follow at Cherry Hill Presbyterian Church, 24110 Cherry Hill Road, Dearborn. Mass will be held in the Chapel. Officiating will be The Most Reverend Michael Saintz with Reverend Robert Kerr assisting, and Reverend John Cramer preaching. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or Friends for animals of metro Detroit. Please share memories and/or leave condolences on Ryszard's guestbook on his tribute wall.