Richard Edward Toyra

MARQUETTE – Richard Edward Toyra, age 83, of Marquette entered eternal life Friday, September 16, 2022 at his home in the loving, comforting care of his family and staff of UP Home Health and Hospice. Richard was born in Escanaba on July 29, 1939 to John and Olga Toyra. He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Olga, his darling wife, Nancy, his brother Melvin Toyra and his nephew Robert Toyra. Richard truly loved the Lord and his favorite Bible verse was Luke 23:43. While dying on the cross Jesus told one of the criminals, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Richard enjoyed sports and continued to play basketball into his fifties. He saw numerous state high school championships in Michigan, Arizona and once in Florida. He often spoke of getting the autographs of Wilt Chamberlain and Bob Gibson at the Restaurant in Tours France prior to a Harlem Globe Trotter game. He graduated from Rock High School, in Rock, Michigan where he participated in football, basketball, and track.

Following high school, he served three years in the US Army finance corp. Serving in Washington, DC and Chinon, France. While in France he had the opportunity to visit the Louve in Paris. He also visited London seeing several plays including My Fair Lady with Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews. Prior to leaving the service he toured the Scandinavian countries and visited relatives in Finland. He visited Finland a second time in the nineties and was very proud of his Finnish Heritage.

After his Army service, he received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from NMU as well as serving four years in the National Guard. He was proud to be part of the Jopling American Legion post 44. He was a supporter of NMU serving on several boards including three years on the Trustee Advisory Board. In addition, he taught several semesters of accounting in the NMU business department in the late sixties.

He was employed by the Longyear office for thirty years serving in various capacities from Accountant, Treasurer, Secretary and Executive Vice President as well as serving on its board of directors and a General Partner of the Longyear Family Partnership. During the same time, he was responsible for the accounting at the Huron Mountain Club for twenty years.

He and his wife Nancy loved to travel visiting museums, seeing theatre plays, cruises, and dinners with their group of friends. His passion for sports included seeing final four NCAA Basketball tournaments in Seattle, New Orleans, Phoenix, and Minneapolis, in three of which the University of Michigan participated, including the famous time out call. He also saw first round NCAA tournament games in Orlando, St. Petersburg, Albuquerque, Tucson, and Phoenix.

Richard was involved with Little League baseball for 34 years. Fourteen years as a coach, manager, and President of the Marquette Little League followed by 20 years as District Administrator working with Little League baseball in Williamsport and his 12 leagues from Ironwood to Marquette to Calumet. He also started girls Little League softball in Marquette which was the forerunner to High School Softball in Marquette County.

Richard loved his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren as well as his great, great, grandchildren.

Richard is survived by his brother William Toyra (Vicki Layman deceased), his three children, Fenton (Maria), Theresa, and John Toyra; Step children, Diana (Jim) Hetrick, Heidi (Danny) Hill, Gretchen (Mike) Lakenen, and Bethney Bergh, and grandchildren, Zachary and Austin Toyra and several other grandchildren, nieces Nicole Miller and Kary Toyra, and nephews, William Toyra, Peter Toyra, and David (Patti) Toyra.

Friends may call at Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services on Tuesday, September 20, beginning at 11:30 am until the time of service at 12:30 pm. Rev. Kevin Taylor will officiate. Interment, with veterans honors, will be made in the Park Cemetery.

Condolences may be expressed online at fassbenderswansonhansen.com