Richard "Rick" DuMouchel

Richard DuMouchel lived his life fully supporting his family, cheering on all his favorite Detroit teams, and spending time outdoors. No day ended without his gentle and calm demeanor reminding others that tomorrow is a new day and there is nothing to worry about. He loved choosing to see the positive side of life. May his rich collection of memories be forever cherished for generations to come.

His story began in 1970, a time when music continued to make a significant impact. The Beatles still topped the charts and the nation was on the verge of the Disco era. While many groups of Americans continued to fight for expanded social and political rights, Richard was welcomed home on January 4th in Kalamazoo, Michigan. His birth brought great joy during an exciting time in our nation’s history.

Rick was raised in Kalamazoo, but spent much of his middle school and high school years on Shelp Lake in Delton, where he learned to fish and play on the water. He excelled at both golf and baseball. He was a proud graduate of the Class of 1988 from Delton Kellogg High School. He married his first wife, Rachel, and they raised two wonderful boys, Thomas and Benjamin. His boys always felt supported and never doubted his love for them.

His second wife, Amanda, enriched his life even further. The two of them hit it off during a long-distance relationship that relied heavily on the use of virtual dates over Skype. They were able to chat daily through video while she was still living in Washington. Rick enjoyed helping her do research for her literature classes while she was completing her college degree. With the time difference and the fact they both enjoyed conversation, some of these study sessions lasted until the wee hours of the morning! The happy couple married on September 18, 2022. They were a great match for one another! Rick tried to keep up with her sarcastic wit and Amanda appreciated his calm demeanor. Together, their opposite traits carried them through day to day.

Rick learned the value of hard work from an early age and became a loyal and dedicated employee of Clark Logic. Easy-going and reliable, he was well-respected by his co-workers and supervisors. He primarily worked the third shift as a driver for Mann Hummel, a client of Clark Logic. No matter how demanding his work life was, Rick never passed up an opportunity to take his sons out hunting or fishing. They would often cast a line off of their favorite spots along the Allegan Dam. As for hunting, they enjoyed getting up early before the sun and heading out to Yankee Springs. Any amount of time Rick was outdoors, his heart was content. These moments spent with his sons were always the stories he cherished.

When he wasn’t grinding long hours at work or spending time with Thomas and Benjamin, he and Amanda created a comfortable life together. They both enjoyed attending concerts. Amanda would always head for the mosh pit to be close to the action, whereas Rick liked to stay back and sway to the music while watching the craziness unfold. Some of their favorite heavy metal bands were the Butcher Babies and A Killer’s Confession. Rick also enjoyed taking Amanda out to the K-Wings hockey games where she was equally as loud and energetic as the concerts. She would spend her night yelling at the refs while Rick took it all in stride, typically with a Mountain Dew in hand. In fact, he drank so much Mountain Dew, Amanda often quipped that his veins must bleed neon yellow!

Back at home, he was known as the constant source of strength. Each time he went out to Meijer to grab something for dinner, he would include a bag of breaded mozzarella sticks so he could snack while they cooked. The simplest things in life brought Rick the greatest joy. Described as a hard worker who enjoyed being surrounded by loved ones, Rick was a generous person who modeled treating everyone with kindness and compassion. May his memories live on eternally in the hearts of his many special friends and loved ones forevermore.

Rick is preceded in death by his father, Thomas. Surviving are his wife, Amanda; sons: Benjamin and Thomas; mother, Gloria; sister, Diana (Timothy); and nieces and nephews.

A Life Story Service will be held at 2 PM on Sunday, January 26, at Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900. A reception will follow in the Life Story Center where food, drinks, and stories can be shared. Celebrate Rick’s life online by sharing memories and photos on his dedicated web page at BetzlerLifeStory.com.