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Dick Rybka
Richard “Dick” Felix Rybka was born April 27th, 1935 in Toledo, Ohio to Valentine Michael Rybka and Petronella (Janas) Rybka. He passed away peacefully August 25th, 2024 surrounded by multiple generations of his family at 89 years old after a long and fulfilling life.
Richard attended Macomber Vocational High School and graduated with the class of 1953 in commercial arts. Using his creative skills, Richard had diverse work experiences in hand painted signs as a commercial artist, was a business entrepreneur, and worked as the chaplain at the NorthLake Correctional Facility where he was affectionately known as “Chap”. His passionate final calling was ministering with his wife Marilyn as pastors for the Living Waters Fellowship Church in Baldwin for over three decades.
He married Marilyn Joyce (Brownell) Rybka on August 10, 1957 (they just celebrated their 67th anniversary!) and they had eight beautiful children: Peggy, Jill, Richard, Jennifer, Cathy, Judy, Mary, Susan. From the time he was a teenager, Richard was blind in one eye, so his children always knew which side to stick their tongues out at him on. He had a never-give-up attitude, big belly laugh, and a devout faith in God. Richard enjoyed his family, his Polish-heritage food (he loved to make his own sausage and kielbasa) fishing, watching the Badger come into port, and visiting the Upper Peninsula.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents: Valentine and Petronella; his brothers David, and Edward; his sisters Dorothy, Leona, and Evelyn; his grandson: Johnathan Ruoff; his granddaughter: Melissa Hill.
He is survived by his wife Marilyn; children Peggy (Fred) Ruoff, Jill (Richard) Scheitler, Richard (Corina) Rybka, Jennifer (David) Orwig, Cathy (Steve) Wurm, Judy (Mike) Bergmann, Mary Hale, Susan (Cris) Gross; grandchildren Michael, Amanda, Nicholas, Joseph, Drue, Kathryn, Matthew, Jesse, Aaron, Benjamin, Andrew, Alyssa, Jacob, Isaac, Fletcher, Isabella, Colton, Olivia; great-grandchildren Annika, Catori, Felix, Oren, Travis, Dylan, Ellis, Anja.
He always called everyone blessed, and so we are, and so we rejoice that he is now resting with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Psalm 91 was his favorite passage, which he read every morning.
A memorial service will be held Friday, September 6, 2024, at 2 p.m. at Oak Grove Funeral Home of Ludington, 3060 W. US 10, Ludington (Amber Township). Visitation begins at 1 p.m. at the funeral home.
A celebration of life will be held Saturday, September 7, 2024, at Living Waters Fellowship Church of Baldwin, at 11 a.m. Visitation begins at 10 a.m. at the church. All are welcome to a luncheon immediately following the services at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Living Waters Fellowship Church of Baldwin as this was a cause dear to Richard’s heart. Feel free to share your stories of Richard with us as we’d love to hear and remember him as he was! He’d want us to go out into the world joyfully, filled with the spirit of God, helping those in need, and enjoying this wonderful green and blue place God has provided for our short time here before going Home.
Arrangements were entrusted to Oak Grove Funeral Home of Ludington, www.OakGroveLudington.com.
