Richard Bedard

RICHARD BEDARD WAUCEDAH- Richard Owen Bedard, age 80 of Waucedah died Friday, April 18, 2008, while doing what he loved best, his farm chores. He was born February 23, 1928 in Gladstone, MI., where his grandmother was a midwife. His parents were George and Aurora (La Pointe) Bedard of Kingsford. He was a very active hunter, fair board member and fisherman. Richard married Barbara Jean Dishaw (the love of his life) on October 24, 1953 at St. Mary's and St. Joseph’s in Iron Mountain. After a brief time working at AO Smith’s in Milwaukee, the couple settled in Waucedah where they had a dairy farm for 12 years, before adventuring into beef farming for another 43 years. Before he married, Richard was an Army Staff Sergeant stationed at Fort Irwin in Marysville, CA. He was inducted in the first draft of the Korean Conflict. Studying agriculture and business at both MSU and NMU, he just recently was certified as a “Citizen Planner”. He was on the Waucedah Township Board, the Township Association, the Dickinson County Board of Commissioners, OEDP, CUPPAD, and worked on the Dickinson County Construction Code. What made him most proud was his place of the Dickinson County Fair Board. Beginning in 1960, he volunteered on the Fair Board for a total of 48 years, most of that time as the Chairman. The Horse Arena Pavilion was named after him, in honor of his efforts in planning and building it. Richard served as the Waucedah Township Supervisor and Zoning Commissioner; he was an active member of the Hall-DeWinter #145 Post of the American Legion, and a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus. In addition, he was a member of the Farmer’s Union, Michigan Farm Bureau, a founding member of the Norway-Vulcan Civics Club, and Farmer of the Year in 1988. He worked many years at Michigan Consolidated Gas Company, both in the Escanaba and Iron Mountain offices. During his early years, he surveyed most of the farms placed in the “Soil Set Aside” program in the local area for the USDA. Richard was a life long 4-H member and leader, earning many awards. Richard’s love of God, family, farm and community lead him on a lifelong journey of tireless devotion to them all. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and community. Richard is survived by Barbara Jean, his bride of almost 55 years. His children Ann (Don) Dames of La Porte, Indiana, Gail (Everett) Wood of Manistique, MI, Thomas (Lisa) Bedard of Waucedah, MI, and Jo-Anne Walz of Diamondale, MI. He had eleven grandchildren, Benjamin (Trisha) Dames, Nick (Kelly) Dames, Laura (Jason) Coffee, Kristi Wood, Erik Walz, Amanda Bedard, Tyler Walz, Everett Matthew Wood, William Wood, Briana Walz, Angela Jean Bedard, and his great grandson Cameron Dames. He is also survived by his brother Edsel Bedard of Escanaba, his sister Shirley Bellin of Quinnesec, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother George Bedard Jr., and his son-in-law Don Walz. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 22 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Miner-Ortman Funeral Home in Norway. American Legion service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Knights of Columbus service will be held at 7 p.m. Prayers will be held on Wednesday, April 23 at 10:30 a.m. at the Miner-Ortman Funeral Home. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday at 11 a.m. at St. Barbara's Church in Vulcan, with Fr. James Roetzer, presiding. The committal service will follow at Cemetery Park in Iron Mountain.

Richard Bedard

February 23, 1928 - April 18, 2008