Richard "Dick" Canning

When you try to define the sort of person Richard Dick Canning was to his family and friends, you imagine someone who is an all around great guy, who loves his life and his family, who always makes himself available when he is needed and was generous to a fault. This is how Dick will be remembered, as a man whose heart was certainly his most endearing attribute. 1928 was a year of firsts in our nations history. As the entertainment world celebrated the first Academy Awards ceremony, moviegoers were enchanted with the first Mickey Mouse cartoon. To benefit mankind, penicillin had just been discovered and an iron lung respirator was used for the first time in a childrens hospital in Boston. It was also a year of firsts for Edmond and Gertrude Canning, longtime residents of Muskegon Michigan. Already the proud parents of daughter Phyllis, on March 5, 1928, they welcomed the birth of their first son, Richard Leon. He and Phyllis were later joined by two younger brothers, Robert and Edmond, who rounded out the Canning household with four children. Dicks father worked hard to support their family as a longtime employee at Continental Motors. Sadly, Dick lost his mother when he was still very young, and thereafter went to live with his grandparents on their farm in Muskegon. Here, he and his siblings were raised by their father and grandparents. Anxious to be a man at 16, Dick lied about his age in order to enlist in the U.S. Army, but by the time they found out, he was already 17 and allowed to remain in the service. During his tour of duty, Dick was stationed in Germany and later Hawaii. Overnight, Dick became an American hero and defied death which he was written about in all the newspapers across the county, when he assisted with a cease halt of an attempted mass break from Schofield Barracks stockade in Honolulu. Sergeant Canning at the age of 19 refused to give orders for the release of the prisoners even as a razor was held to his throat. He was awarded 2 Purple Hearts. Dick proudly served for 9 years before being honorably discharged due to injuries. Dick also after 50 years received his high school diploma from Shelby High School at his 55th high school reunion through the help of President Clinton. It wasnt long after Dick returned home to Muskegon that he met the love of his life, Mary Mosher. Dick had gone to Marys sisters house to borrow some money when he first saw Mary. The two were so smitten from the start, neither could remember if Dick had actually borrowed the money or not! Hopelessly in love, Dick and Mary were happily married on May 9, 1954, at his familys house in Muskegon. He loved to take little Ruby fishing with him and she was proud as peaches when he let her keep her fish (even the tiny ones). Eventually, Dick and Mary expanded their family with the births of their two sons, Ricky and Michael. Besides being a devoted husband and father, Dick worked for 22 years as an electrician at Eagle Ottawa. He later went to work at Cashway Lumber in Holland, where he retired in the late 1980s. Dick was a lifetime member of the Eagles, but when it came to his hobbies, he loved to garden, listen to Patsy Kline music and do masterful woodworking. Many of his grandkids pictures are displayed on the wall in frames that he made. Above all, though Dick loved to use his Citizen Broad Band Radio, going by the CB handle of LittleRichCHJ8608. In fact, his whole family enjoyed this hobby, and every year they went camping with fellow CBers - one week at Bear Lake, and then a week in the summer at Fife Lake. While the parents played cards and socialized, the kids made their own fun together! Dick and Mary enjoyed socializing with friends, especially if it consisted of playing penny poker and listening to good music. Dick was the great cook in the family, and served up the best holiday dinners ever. His kids especially loved his infamous stuffing, which they fought over every year. Dick was also a wonderful Grandpa and loved to babysit his grandkids whenever possible. He had this way of quieting them when they were fussy, which always amazed his family. That was until they learned his secret he said, just a little bit of beer calms them down. Family was the greatest source of happiness for Dick, and there wasnt anything he wouldnt do for them. After Dick retired, he and Mary moved to Hesperia to live out their retirement years near their family. Dick Canning truly knew how to enjoy, cherish and celebrate every moment life had to offer. His deeds and actions are an inspiration to those that knew and loved him. He will be greatly missed. Richard "Dick" Canning, age 81 of Grand Haven, MI, died on Wednesday, May 13, 2009, after a brief illness. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mary; 2 sons, Ricky (Patricia) Canning of Grand Haven, Michael Canning of Grand Haven; 2 daughters, Ruby Cough of Grand Haven, Deborah (Paul) Moelker of Grand Haven; grandchildren: Kirsten (Roy) Logan, Brandon (Samantha) Cough, Stacey (Michael) Trenarry, Stephanie (John) VanderMolen, David Moelker, Heather (Pete) Canning, Shawn Canning, Desiree (Luke) Facchini and Megan Canning; and 14 great-grandchildren. Services will be held on Saturday, May 16, at 11:00 a.m. in the Clock Chapel of Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Grand Haven, with Pastor Dan Ward officiating. A time of visitation is set aside on Friday, May 15, from 4-7 p.m. & on Saturday, 1 hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the New Mission Systems International, P.O. Box 547, Fort Myers, FL 33902 or www.nmsi.org (write Paul Moelker on the memo line). Please visit Dicks memory page at www.clockfuneralhome.com where you may share a memory with his family or sign his online guest book.