In Memory of President Dick Graham
After a short battle with pancreatic cancer, Dick passed onto his heavenly home on February 9th, 2023. He was at his winter residence in Bradenton Beach, FL surrounded by his loving family.
Dick was raised in Bear Lake and attended Bear Lake Schools. After serving in the U.S. Army he attended Michigan State University receiving a civil engineering degree. After working in his field he started his own civil engineering firm in Troy, MI. He continued that business for 18 years until his retirement. He returned back to his roots and purchased a lake front home on the west shore of the lake.
Dick was married to June Englund for 55 years. They raised five daughters and a son. They were blessed with 13 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.
Dick was a very young 91+ years old. He took pride and enjoyed his yard, gardens & flowers. He grew and harvested his own grapes and made jelly. Dick was an avid hunter & fisherman.
Having graduated from Bear Lake Schools Dick attended the annual Bear Lake class reunions and cherished many life-long friendships.
Dick was elected to the Manistee County Road Commission Board in 2013 and remained on that board until his passing.
Dick was an active member of the Bear Lake Promoters and supported many of their community events.
Dick became very active in giving back to his Bear Lake community. He was very involved in the newly formed Bear Lake Watershed Alliance. With his civil engineering back round he chaired the search for old storm drains in the village and helped the organization fulfill the requirements for a SAW grant. He helped implement & maintain the first rain garden on the library grounds. In 2020 he was elected the 3rd. BLWA president, a position he held until his death. With Dick’s enthusiasm and supervision a rain garden was planned and planted at the new May Buell Township Park in Pleasanton Township at Butwell Rd. & Lakeside Ave.
With a loving and lasting memory of President Dick Graham the officers of BLWA have decided to name the new rain garden at the May Buell Township Park the Dick Graham Rain Garden.
The organization will also purchase an all-weather park bench and tree to be placed in the park along with a plaque to commemorate President Dick Graham. Any member or friend that would like to contribute to this memorial can send their check to the BLWA and note the memorial. Dick’s family will receive a list of contributors.
Farewell to a friend and a giving supporter of everything Bear Lake.
The service for Dick will be on Thursday May 25th., 2023 at 2:00 PM at Good Shepard Lutheran Church, Manistee, MI. Family will received friends & visitors an hour prior to the service. A Celebration of Life will follow at the Manistee VFW Hall from 3:00 – 6:00 PM.
