Richard Thomas Tichelaar

Richard was born on April 12, 1941, in Hardwood, Michigan, to Bernard and Harriett (Bertrand) Tichelaar. He attended the Foster City and Felch Schools, graduating in 1959. He worked with his father in the logging industry, then for a couple of years on the ore boats, before long-time employment as a laborer and foreman for the Chicago Northwestern Railroad (later Wisconsin Central and Union Pacific). He worked primarily out of the Little Lake Depot before retiring in 2000. In 1968, Richard married Nancy Lee White. They had two sons, Tyler and Daniel. For forty-five years, they lived in Stonegate at the Crossroads before moving to the Tourville Apartments in Marquette.

Richard’s hobbies included hunting, fishing, gardening, woodworking, and scratching lottery tickets. He enjoyed going on pheasant hunting trips to South Dakota with his late friend Bill Gustin. He and his late friend Nick Ilnicky also hunted together and enjoyed going out for coffee. Richard traveled many other places, including Seattle, Las Vegas, Branson, New York City, Washington, DC, Hawaii, and the Netherlands where his father was born.

Richard is survived by his wife Nancy of fifty-seven years and his son Tyler, both of Marquette); his sisters Dorothy Tichelaar (Riverside, CA); Patricia McGovern (Chicago, IL); Gertrude Tichelaar (Niles, IL); and several nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his son Daniel, his parents, his brother George Tichelaar, his sister Rosemary Occhietti, and his nephews David Occhietti and David Schuls.

Funeral services for Richard will take place on Monday, December 29, 2025, at Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Services will be at 11:00 a.m. with Father Dustin Larson officiating. A luncheon will follow. Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery.

Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services is assisting the family where condolences may be shared at www.fassbenderswansonhansen.com.