Richard Frecker, 80

Richard Jay Frecker, age 80 of Scotts, died peacefully in the presence of his family on Friday August 13, 2010 at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo following a long illness. He was born in Fort Wayne, IN on Feb. 19, 1930 the son of Joseph and Marie (Weller) Frecker.

Richard was married to Virginia Lee Buchanan on Jan. 17, 1953 in New Haven, IN. Together they raised nine children and operated a dairy farm east of Leonidas until their retirement in 1979. He was a member of the Farm Bureau and a leader for the Leonidas Do-Best 4-H Club. Richard was a member of St. Edward Catholic Church in Mendon, and frequently attended mass at St. Martin’s in Vicksburg and St. Catherine’s in Portage. He and his wife traveled with the Harvest Store Travel Group and enjoyed Wednesday trips to Shipshewana. They especially enjoyed their retirement by spending time with children, grandchildren, and great neighbors.

Richard is survived by nine children and their spouses, Linda & Adolph Carrillo, Rose & DeWayne Holtz, Sue & Paul Olguin, Diane & Kim Barnes, Connie & Shane Clipfell, Mary Jane & Dave Duke, Janet & Mike Gibson, Pam & Mike Kline, Rick & Eva Frecker; twenty one grandchildren, Phillip, Emily, Matt, Mark, Travis, Ginger, Taylor, John, Lauren, Kelly, Kyle, Ashley, Shelby, Kirk, TJ, Elizabeth (Jake), Mitch, Nicole, Sunhee, Jinhee, and Lee; 1 great-grandchild, Ty; 6 brothers, Delbert, Eugene, Harold, Larry, Stanley, and Carl Frecker; a sister, Rose Marie Duffek; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia; his parents; a sister, Phyllis Ann Kuhn; and a brother, Donald Frecker.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday at the Eickhoff Funeral Home in Mendon where the Rosary will be recited at 7 pm on Monday. The funeral mass will be 11 a.m. Tuesday Aug. 17, 2010 at St. Edward Catholic Church in Mendon with Rev. Jim Vinh Le officiating. Burial will be in St. Edward Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to Hospice of Southwest Michigan, Climax Fire & Rescue Squad, St. Edward Catholic Church, your local 4–H Club, or to a memorial bench fund at the Kalamazoo County Fairgrounds. An online register is available and condolences may be left for the family at www.eickhofffuneralhome.com