Richard Pulsifer

Richard George Pulsifer loved his family and worked hard to make life secure as well as rich with experience. He also infused fun and laughter into their lives with sport and humor. His optimistic outlook on life contributed to a positive attitude that saw Richard through the tough times and made the good times that much better. Richard George was born to George and Hazel (Lindstrom) Pulsifer on February 26, 1931 in Muskegon, Michigan. Americans were struggling to survive the Great Depression, and those coming of age during WWII knew what it meant to sacrifice for family and country. George supported the family through his work at SD Warren Paper Mill, while Hazel remained at home to care for Richard and his older siblings, Robert, Leona, Blanche, Ruth, Dorothy and Mona. Richard grew up in the Lakeside neighborhood of Muskegon and attended Bunker School. Being a very good football and baseball player, he excelled on his junior high school football team and was soon noticed for his baseball skills. Since he wasnt fond of academics, Rich quit school in the 9th grade and went to work as a pinsetter at the Michigan Bowling Lanes in downtown Muskegon. When workers at his fathers mill wanted to recruit him to play on their softball team, they first had to offer him a job. That set the course of Richards career. He went to work for SD Warren Paper Mill and didnt leave until retirement. Romance came to Rich when he met 17-year old Joyce Barnhard at Curve Crest Roller Rink. It accelerated quickly, and soon the couple was talking of marriage. However when Dick, or Dickie Boy as Joyce affectionately called him, asked for her hand in marriage, her parents would not consent until she was 18. It was on February 24, 1951 that Dick and Joyce made their vows and began life as husband and wife. Shortly after they were married, Dick was drafted into the U.S. Army and Joyce moved with him to Ft. Riley, Kansas for his basic training. He was sent overseas during the Korean Conflict and served on the front lines with the infantry. At that point, Joyce returned to Muskegon and kept busy as a roller skating car hop waitress at Chadwicks Drive-In Restaurant. The couple reunited after his tour of duty was completed and began their family with the birth of Sue in 1953. Over the years, they welcomed two more childrenRick, born in 1955 and James in 1960. Eventually settling into a house on Cleveland Street in Muskegon Heights, Dick was intent on being a father. He proudly served as a Boy Scout Cub Master at Roosevelt School for several years and got his children interested in his own hobbies: fishing and hunting. Every summer the family rented a cabin on Hamlin Lake in Ludington, where Dick and the kids were out there fishing with cane poles. They took several road-trip vacations to places around Michigan, Florida, Texas and Georgia. It was routine for them to pack a camp stove so that they could have picnics at roadside rest stops, but most often they stayed overnight at kitchenette motels. Sadly, in the 1970s, Dick and Joyces marriage hit a rough patch and they divorced, but happily it was only for a few years. They eventually realized they were meant for each other and remarried in 1983 with a grand wedding in which the whole family participated. They settled into a mobile home in Apple Carr Village and lived there for over 40 years. They made a name for themselves at Christmas time when Dick decorated the place with blow-up characters and lights. One year, he was declared runner-up in the newspapers annual decoration competition. Having returned to SD Warren Paper Mill after his stint in Korea, Dick first worked as a crane operator and bulldozer driver of the huge woodchip piles and later as a painter. For some reason, his coworkers called him Dobbie, and Dick was happy to work there for over 43 years. His health forced him to retire early in 1992. Still young, Dick and Joyce were eager to enjoy his retirement and camping was the perfect way. As members of TTCM (Travel Trailer Club of Michigan), Dick and Joyce spent several weeks at the clubs private campground, where he installed a TV satellite dish in the trailer. They were popular with their grandchildren, who camped with them several times. As much as they could, they also liked to attend the grandkids school and sporting events. Around home, Dick was quite a handyman and could fix almost anything. He kept active even though he was hit with prostate cancer and later developed COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). He beat the cancer and eventually required oxygen for COPD, but he never let his health concerns get him down. He did as much as he could, and a few years ago when he and Joyce moved into Christian Care assisted living, Dick continued his Christmas tradition. He decorated their balcony with the same holiday spirit that the family enjoyed for so many years. Mr. Richard Pulsifer, age 84, passed away Saturday, December 5, 2015. SURVIVORS: Sons, Rick (Colleen) Pulsifer, James (Laura) Pulsifer; daughter, Sue (Ford) Redding; 14 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; sisters, Ruth Heimann, Leona Hershberger. He was preceded in death by his wife Joyce in May. SERVICE: Tuesday, December 8, 2015, 11:00 am at the Clock Chapel - Muskegon with Rev. Ken Shady officiating and Military Honors under the Auspices of the Muskegon County Council of Veterans. Interment in Lakeside Cemetery. VISITATION: Monday, December 7, 2015, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm at Clock Funeral Home - Muskegon. MEMORIAL: Harbor Hospice.