Richard Voss

Richard (Dick) Albert Voss, 81, of St. Joseph, MI passed away at The Willows in St. Joseph, MI on Tues., January 23, 2018. A Celebration of Life service will take place on Fri., Jan. 26, 1:30 pm, at Starks & Menchinger Funeral Home in St. Joseph, MI with Rev. Brett Ehlke officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery. Visitation with the family is on Fri., Jan. 26, from 12:30-1:30 pm at Starks & Menchinger Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lighthouse Forever Fund. Friends wishing to leave the family a message of condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com Dick was born on July 6, 1936 in St. Joseph to the late Eric and Charlotte (Dietrich) Voss. Growing up near the North Pier, Dick developed a love for Lake Michigan and boating. As a teenager, he recognized the need to help rescue lost items on and around the pier and channel. Richard formed his own scuba diving service. Another need he recognized was transportation across the channel for out of town sailors mooring at the yacht club. He provided a row boat service to get sailors across the channel to see the City of St. Joseph. Dick also had a passion for boat racing. Dick graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1954 and attended Lake Michigan College. He married Dolly Marshall of Benton Harbor in 1957. After being employed by Whirlpool Corporation as an illustrator, he became an agent with Totzke Real Estate, becoming a full partner.  In 1981 Dick was elected President of The Southwestern Michigan Association of Realtors. He later formed Midwest Appraisal Company, becoming the first certified Appraiser in the county. Midwest Appraisal provided appraisal services to local banks and savings and loans. He was commissioned by the State of Michigan to appraise right-of-way for US-31 by-pass. He is survived by his wife, Dolly (Marshall), daughter, Cherie (Dr. Craig) Okonski of St. Joseph, grandsons Daniel and Ryan Okonski, and brother-in-law, Phillip (Linda) Marshall of Lawrence, Michigan and several nieces and nephews. He is preceeded in death by his parents, Eric and Charlotte Voss, sister Beverly (John) Tesner and Shirley (Herbert) Harte.