Richard "Rick" Glen Siler

Richard “Rick” Glen Siler of South Haven, Michigan, passed away peacefully on July 11th, 2020 in Kalamazoo, Michigan with his beloved wife, Cathy Siler, by his side.

Rick was born on March 25, 1945 in Detroit, Michigan to Kenneth and Edna (Peter) Siler. He grew up in Farmington, Michigan where he often worked in his father’s grocery store and played sports. He attended Central Michigan University where he studied Education and met Cathy. After winning her over with his humor, wit, and smile, he proposed with the help of some animal crackers. Rick and Cathy married in South Haven, Michigan and together, raised their family.

Rick was committed to his work, used his talents as an educator and principal, and earned his Doctor of Education from Western Michigan University. He transitioned to manufacturing where he built teams, collaborated, problem-solved, mentored and served as an Executive in the fields of mobile mining equipment, automotive and precision machine components, as well as performance apparel.

Rick was devoted to his 4 children, Steve, Ted, Carey & Annie, and passed down to them his work ethic, loyalty, and love of Michigan sports teams. He taught them humility and how to hit a baseball. He taught them how to balance a checkbook, take baseball stats and he inspired them to be good parents.

Rick loved to travel with Cathy. They saw the Eiffel Tower and rode in a cable tram to see the Swiss Alps. They rode bikes and toured Hemingway’s home and museum while in Key West. He took his wife, children, and their spouses to Maui, where they played hard while he worked hard.

Rick, also known as Boppa, took extreme pride in his grandchildren, Marnie, Cate, Ellie, Jack, Austin, Ryan, Jake, Joe, Lane and Audrey, often letting them tear up his house and pool in Indianapolis during their many and long visits.

Rick loved the Wolverines, Red Wings, Lions, Pistons and Tigers; he enjoyed the Tigers best while watching the muted television, listening to Ernie Harwell’s radio broadcast. He loved Sherman’s black cherry ice cream, Clementine’s nachos, St. Elmo’s shrimp cocktail and Cathy’s reubens. He especially enjoyed leaving his name as Laimbeer when adding to the wait list at a restaurant. He hated the taste of coffee but loved the smell while he would grind beans for Cathy. He loved to read, fiction and non-fiction alike, with a blanket on his lap and Cathy on the couch.

Rick will be fondly remembered by friends and family as a loving husband, father, Boppa, friend, mentor, carpenter, sports fan, automotive enthusiast, historian, pillow snob, and storyteller.

Rick is preceded in death by his father and mother, Kenneth and Edna, Cathy’s parents, Floyd & Emma Jean, as well as his brother, Ken. Rick is survived by his wife Cathy of 54 years, children, Steve (Elizabeth), Ted (Justina), Carey (John Sipes), and Annie (Mark) and 10 grandchildren. 

Private family services will be held. Memorial contributions may be made to Rose Arbor Hospice at 5473 Croyden Avenue, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49009 or the First Congregational Church, UCC We Care Food Pantry at 651 Phoenix Street, South Haven, Michigan 49090.