James Richard “Dick”  Ward

Ward, James Richard "Dick" James Richard “Dick” Ward, aged 91, passed away Monday, May 26, 2014.  He is preceded in death by his wife, Lucena; son-in-law, Jerry Goodman; brother, Hugh and Mary Ward; sisters and brothers –in-law, Joyce and Robert Welton, Frederick Bowerman.  He will be greatly missed by his children: Marjorie and Robert Williams, James and Deanna Ward, Patricia Goodman, Joyce and Gary Babic, Jean and Andre Aki, Paul and Ellen Ward, June and Dave Bowman; 27 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; brother, Wallace and Betty Ward; sisters-in-law: Donna Welton, Agnes and Dave Montgomery, Beatrice and Jack Neely, Linda and Hank Dykstra, Pat and Bill Snyder; many nieces and nephews.   Dick was a graduate of Caledonia High School and Univ. of Michigan.  He proudly served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Sarsfield during WWII.  He retired after many years from Consumers Power Co.  Dick was a longtime member of the United Methodist Church and was very active with youth programs.  Funeral services for Dick will be held Thursday, June 5, 2014, at 11:00 am at Caledonia United Methodist Church, 250 Vine St. with Rev. Jodie Flessner officiating. Interment in Lakeside Cemetery. The family will receive relatives and friends at the Matthysse-Kuiper-DeGraaf Funeral Home (Caledonia), 616 E. Main St. on Wednesday from 3-5:00 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to Caledonia United Methodist Church-Music Program or The American Cancer Society.