Richard "Dick" Kienbaum

Loving, kind, and supportive, Richard,” Dick”, Kienbaum lived a life rich in family and friends. An extremely hard worker, Richard was always willing to give his all. Whether to his family, career, or community, he always led with his heart and never complained. Richard embodied his beliefs, welcoming every person as a friend and each day as a gift. An inspiration to all who were blessed to know him, Richard proved a powerful role model for living a wholehearted life. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, educator, and friend, Richard will long be remembered and so dearly missed.

Despite the obvious gloom of the growing conflict in Europe, 1938 held much to celebrate, including the end of the Great Depression, Seabiscuit’s historic win, and Superman’s first appearance. As the U.S. actively armed up for war, families continued to center their lives on love and hope for a brighter future. Nowhere was that hope more evident than in the lives of Ervin and Jennie (Boyne) Kienbaum, who welcomed their youngest child, Richard, to their family on February 11 in Ferndale, Michigan.

Though Richard was the Kienbaum’s third son, sadly, Richard’s eldest brother, Rudolph, passed away as a baby. Richard grew up in the good company of his older brother, Tom, in a home rooted in family values. His father was an assistant superintendent for the local public school, and his mother devoted herself to tending the home and raising her sons. Being the son of the school administrator meant Richard couldn’t do anything wrong without getting caught. Despite this short leash, he was a gifted athlete who enjoyed playing basketball, baseball, and football. A skilled pitcher, Richard, was offered a preferred walk-on position on University of Michigan’s team. While attending the team’s tryouts, he realized he wasn’t interested in pursuing college sports professionally and left.

After graduating high school one year early in 1955, Richard attended the University of Michigan for a couple of years before transferring to Western Michigan University. Initially having had difficulty choosing between the two schools, his family’s legacy of teachers, including his older brother, and grandfather’s status as one of Western’s Hall of Famers, drew him to the school.

As Richard weighed the pros and cons between a career in accounting or teaching, he realized accounting wasn’t people-centered enough for him and chose education. As he pursued his degree, Richard had the good fortune of meeting Bette James in one of his classes. They saw each other in class, and at many events that their respective fraternity and sorority participated in together.

Richard and Bette dated for a time and were soon planning a future together. The happy couple married on August 13, 1960, right after Richard had graduated with his degree. As Bette still had a semester of schooling to complete, Richard secured his employment and worked while she finished her education.

In 1962, Richard and Bette were delighted to become parents when their son Ric was born. Their family was complete four years later when their son Mike was born. Richard was the family’s rock. A constant source of love and support, Richard knew how to balance career and family. He encouraged his sons in all their endeavors. Whether they chose to do something fun or made a major life decision, Richard never pushed his sports on his kids. Instead, he encouraged them at every turn. His sons remember their parents only ever having two fights. Both were about how to best support their sons.

Richard’s career called him into school administration, and he served as Haverhill Elementary principal from 1966 to 1994. He was also Portage’s summer school principal for quite a few years. Richard loved his job and was very dedicated to his work and the community he served. The foundation of his work was his consistency and compassion. People were people in his eyes, and everyone deserved respect and care. Richard naturally knew how to care for people and de-escalate a volatile situation. Even when dealing with angry parents, he never inflated the situation. With his signature calm demeanor, he knew how to tell people without words that whatever they were doing or saying was not okay. One of his favorite things to do as principal was to read to the students. During the holiday season he always read “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” by Dr. Suess. It got him the seasonal nickname the Grinch which was far from who he was.

Back then, community members phone numbers were listed in the Yellow Pages. It wasn’t unusual for students, families, and parents to call Richard at home during dinner or the evening, and he always gave them his time to listen to their concerns without complaint. Even though his job was demanding and could impose on his family, Richard always made time for his children, often shooting basketball or throwing around a baseball. During the few weeks he had off work in the summer, the family would vacation at a lake. After relaxing at Silver Lake or Gull Lake, then they would always end their vacation with a day or two of fun at Cedar Point.

Richard and Bette retired around the same time and began enjoying spending more time together. Inseparable, they went everywhere together and enjoyed many travel adventures. Over the years, they saw much of the world, including taking an epic trip to China to visit one of Bette’s former students. When the young man was in Bette’s class, she helped him with the transition to high school, and in time, he and his parents were welcomed by Richard and Bette as family. In time, the young man became an international attorney, moved to China, and invited Richard and Bette to visit. They gratefully accepted and spent six wonderful weeks exploring China.

As they aged and had to keep their adventures closer to home, Richard and Bette found much joy in life’s simple pleasures. Richard possessed a fabulous sense of humor, and everyone was allowed to make fun of each other. If anyone went too far with their humor, Richard would give them a stern talking to, and they’d soon be on the right track. Richard’s Detroit roots were always evident. You could take the man out of Detroit, but you couldn’t take the Detroit out of the man. He always took VERY good care of his cars, even going so far as to replace the Fisher Body sticker when it fell off. His car of choice was a 1956 Chevy Belair and he owned a Canyon Red one similar to the first he drove during his retirement. Richard was also a sharp-dressed man who purchased a new suit every year and always cared for them, ensuring they looked fresh and fine no matter how often he wore them.

Richard never hesitated to lend his hand and served as the president of the Portage Community Outreach Center. He was there when they moved to their new business location. He also served as the president of Van Buren Youth Camp, where he and Bette, and their kids spent much time when the boys were growing up. He was encouraging and supporting of Ric and Mike and later James and Tyler becoming staff members. The camp meant so much to Richard that he helped families who couldn’t afford to send their kids to the camp by donating often to help the families out.

As we celebrate Richard’s wonderful life, may we find comfort in our many treasured memories and in the gift of carrying his legacy of kindness and care forward. In each moment we welcome a stranger as a friend, sincerely listen, encourage our loved one’s dreams and goals, explore the world with our beloved, serve our community, and enjoy a hearty laugh, we keep Richard’s memory alive and inspiring others as he so inspired us.

Richard “Dick” Kienbaum, age 87, died on March 12. Richard was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Tom and Rudolph Kienbaum. Surviving is his wife, Bette; children: Ric (Julie) and Mike Kienbaum; grandchildren: James, Tyler, Ricky, Sarah (Phil) Johnson, and Rachel (Eric) Boyer; great- grandchildren: Madelyn, Oliver, Michael, and Mackenzie; and many nieces and nephews.

Please join us at a Life Story Visitation on Friday, March 21 at 9AM at Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900 where food, drinks, and stories will be shared. A Life Story Service will follow in the chapel. Celebrate Richard’s life online by sharing your favorite stories and photos on his dedicated webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com. Memorial donations may be made to The Portage Community Center.