Obituary of Richard Eugene Van Dyke

Richard Eugene Van Dyke, 73yrs young, of Williamston, Michigan, passed away Sunday, August 27, 2023.  He was born November 4, 1949 in Columbus Ohio to Floyd and Audrey (Evans) VanDyke. 

Richard loved the family he created with his wife Julie. They were married on February, 28, 1970 and celebrated 53 years of marriage. He especially loved his grandchildren. You could see the love in his eyes that he had for them, and spoiling them was his favorite. He was always coming up with fun things to build for them or do for them. Seeing them smile was his greatest source of joy.   

After retiring young, he spent his life working in his 5 acre yard, making it beautiful, planting and selling flowers with his wife and family, and creating beautiful gardens around the yard with her. He loved her so very much. He was always outside tinkering with stuff, and could build or fix anything with what he had around the house. He built his barn, animal pens, 4 deer blinds, and play structures for his grandchildren. He made sure they’d always have fun. He enjoyed mowing the grass and raking leaves in the fall.  He used to love hunting & fishing as well. He also loved having animals, but really loved having a few cups of coffee a day, calling it “ his coffee break”.  Above all else, family was most important to him. So of course, he made holidays special with how thoughtful he always was & would sometimes go overboard with gifts! He always showed how much he cared, was a wonderful family man, and will be missed so deeply. 

He sadly leaves behind his wife, Julie Diane VanDyke; daughter, Marsha VanDyke; son, Rich Van Dyke; granddaughters, Ashley, Alisha and Marissa; great-grandchildren, Aubrey, Alaina, Austin, and Sam. 

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1 PM, Saturday, September 23, 2023, at 5350 M-52, Williamston, Michigan.  Memorial contributions, floral tributes, or sympathy cards may be mailed to the family c/o  5350 M-52 Williamston, MI 48895.  To sign online guestbook, visit www.cremationsocietymidmi.com  Arrangements made with Cremation Society of Mid Michigan.