Richard D. Pelkey

Richard Dale Pelkey, 74, of St. Joseph died peaceful with his family by his side on Wednesday February 27, 2002 at his home. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 4:00 P.M. Saturday at Zion United Church of Christ in Baroda. Officiating will be Rev. Chris Noffke. Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 P.M. Friday at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to Hospice at Home, 2626 W. John Beers Road, Stevensville Michigan 49085 or Zion United Church of Christ P.O. Box 10 Baroda, Michigan 49101. Richard was born on December 26, 1927 to Homer & Aglia (Valley) Pelkey in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He graduated from St. Johns Catholic School in 1945. He received an athletic scholarship to Western Michigan University for Basketball and played in Madison Square Gardens. He served in the United States Navy at the end of WWII. On August 21 1952 he married Joan Kronos. During his life he was the owner of R & D Electric for 25 years. An Avid Sports fan, one of his greatest loves was watching his grandchildren at sporting events. Survived by his wife Joan; a son Terry (Sharna) Pelkey of St. Joseph; Five Daughters Connie (Kenneth) Conklin of St. Joseph, Cheryl (Robin) Mabry of Buchanan, Lynn (Daryl) Schlender of Stevensville, Kim (David) Fritz of Baroda, Karen Pelkey of St. Joseph; Twelve grandchildren Aaron(Robin)Johnson, Brett Schlender, Jared Schlender, Ken Conklin, Karla (Anthony)Heyn, Emily Fritz, Laura Fritz, Ryan Bush, Audra Bush, Autumn Pelkey, Meghan Pelkey, Anna Pelkey; a brother Larry (Edna) Pelkey of Stevensville.