Ricky Dingman

A man who was deeply devoted to the people and things he was passionate about, Ricky Dingman was an extraordinary man to know and love. He was accompanied by a strong work ethic and was a firm believer in working hard in everything he did. Nothing compared to being with his family that grew to include the daughters who were his greatest source of pride and joy. He seized every opportunity to head out on the open road while feeling the wind in his face riding one of his motorcycles. Taken from his loved ones too soon, Ricky will be dearly missed while his memory remains forever near and dear to the hearts of his many friends and loved ones.

The decade of the 1950s was a colorful time in our nation’s history. We had emerged from WWII and entered into the baby boom, which created an explosion in new home construction. Televisions were becoming part of our homes while we were fully engaged in the space race with the Soviet Union. It was as this decade was drawing to a close that we welcomed Alaska and Hawaii as our 49th and 50th states, and the stage was set for tremendous momentum in civil rights. Amidst this eventful time, Ricky was born on October 26, 1952 to Jack and Maxine Dingman. He was raised in both Kalamazoo and Paw Paw and was an active boy right from the start.

In many ways Ricky experienced a fairly typical upbringing. His father worked for the City of Portage while his mother worked for Paw Paw Schools. Ricky’s parents owned horses, which meant that he spent a fair amount of time riding and was also responsible for helping out on the horse farm. He was a student at local schools and played a variety of sports at Paw Paw High School including football and baseball. Rick went on to graduate from high school in 1970.

Not to be forgotten during his years in high school was Rick’s introduction to the woman with whom he would write a love story that would span nearly 43 years. Her name was Pat Reits, and she was a football cheerleader for Paw Paw High School. They officially met in 1966, and it wasn’t long before they were deeply in love. They became high school sweethearts, and with a desire to spend the rest of their lives together Ricky and Pat became husband and wife on April 3, 1971. They had a marriage that most can only dream of as they were true companions who acted like a couple of teenagers out on a date even after 42 years of marriage.

A man of honor and integrity, Rick served his country in the United States Air Force from 1971 through 1975. While in the military he was stationed at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, which rooted a lifelong love for Florida in his heart.

Together Rick and Pat were filled with unspeakable joy to welcome two daughters into their hearts and home: Cherie, who was born in November of 1972 and Angela, who was born in October of 1975. Through the years the Dingman family was made complete with a couple of dogs including a Dachshund named Rumpelstiltskin and a greyhound rescue, Jamie, who was Ricky’s favorite.

Although his family was always first and foremost in his life, Rick’s co-workers and those he met through his work over the years were like a second family to him. In 1980 he was hired by his high school friend, John Soule, to work for him at W. Soule & Company. Rick’s hard work and dedication to his job were evident to all of those around him. Through this job Rick was blessed to have met and worked with some of the best people in the world, friends who he would do anything for and who would do anything for him as well.

Ricky enjoyed so many things throughout his life. With a strong devotion to serving others in his community, he was a member of the Paw Paw Volunteer Fire Department during the eighties. He was always ready to drop whatever he was doing when the alarm rang, and he enjoyed playing water ball with his fellow fire fighters. Rick was a motorcycle enthusiast who owned a few different motorcycles. Always the free spirit, he and some of his friends went on a bike trip to Myrtle Beach during bike week, leaving Michigan in the snow and ending up at the beach! Rick took vacations with his wife to Las Vegas several times, and sometimes friends and family came, too. He loved seeing all the hotels and attractions that were new each time he went. Since he loved the warm weather and was an avid golfer, Rick and his wife took several trips to warmer climates to take in the sun and play golf. Some of their favorite trips were to Myrtle Beach and Swan Lake Golf Resort with their good friends, Gary and Mary Bronkema. Closer to home Rick liked playing on courses in the Gaylord area. Rick was a sun lover who was known to lay in the sun, nap in the sun, and read books in the sun. It was his love for the sun that brought he and Pat to Florida to live year round in 2007. Ricky enjoyed reading Stephen King novels, watching action movies, and listening to rock music - and he liked it loud! He loved being a grandfather not only to Shayn, but also to his five granddogs and grandduck, Daisy.

A man who would give the shirt off his back to help out his family or friends, there was no one who met Rick Dingman and wasn’t changed for the better. He was dependable, loyal, and a man of his word. It has been said that Rick never did anything half-assed as he gave everything he did 110 percent whether his work, his hobbies, or being there for his loved ones. Although he accomplished so many things of which to be proud, there was nothing that Ricky treasured more than being a hero to his little girls. An inspiration and mentor to many, he will be deeply missed.

Ricky Dingman, formerly of Mattawan, died on Tuesday, March 4, 2014, in Lake Alfred Florida. Rick’s family includes his wife, Pat; daughters: Cherie (Jason) Treece and Angela (Jere) Henson and grandson, Shayn Henson. A service will be held at 11 am on Saturday, March 29th at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (375-2900). A reception and a time of sharing will be held immediately following in the Life Story Center. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can archive a favorite memory or photo and sign his guestbook before coming to the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Second Chance for Greyhounds of Michigan or the Paw Paw Volunteer Fire Department.