Richard A. "Dick" Rogalla

Mr. Richard A. "Dick" Rogalla, age 77, passed away Thursday, January 17, 2008 at Mercy Hospital. He was born January 4, 1931 in Muskegon to Peter A. and Frances (Karchinski) Rogalla and lived in the area his entire life. Prior to his retirement in 1989, Dick worked as a technician for 34 years at GTE. On August 16, 1952, he married the former Patricia R. Roberts in Muskegon and she survives him. As a member of St. Mary Catholic Church, he was involved with many committees and ministries. Because of his great love of music, he was instrumental with the refurbishment of the pipe organ and renovation of the stained glass windows at St. Mary Church. Most recently, he facilitated the installation of the church's new carillon. Dick was an active board member of the Nims Neighborhood Association. Along with his wife, Pat, he is SURVIVED by 2 daughters, Susan (Chuck) Tindall, Eileen (Richard) Hoogterp; 1 son, Richard B. (Laurie) Rogalla; 1 son-in-law, Roy (Britta) Portenga; 7 grandchildren, Ryan, Eric, and Elizabeth Portenga, Nicholas Tindall, John R. Allen, Richard C. and Daniel Rogalla; 1 brother, Max (Helen) Rogalla; 2 sisters-in-law, Agnes Rogalla and Erma Rogalla. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Ann Louise Rogalla Portenga in 2005; his parents; 2 brothers, Raymond and his wife, Anita Rogalla; and Leonard Rogalla. THE MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL will be celebrated 11:00 AM Monday, January 21, 2008 at St. Mary Catholic Church. INTERMENT will follow at St. Mary Cemetery. VISITATION with Dick's family will be 2-4 and 6-8 PM Sunday at The Walburn Chapel Sytsema Funeral Homes, Inc. 1547 W. Sherman Blvd. (231) 759-8565 Evening Prayer will be 6:00 PM Sunday evening at the funeral home. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the Mass, 10-11 AM Monday at the church. MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS may be directed to St. Mary Catholic Church Renovation Fund or St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church "Fit at Forty" Campaign.