Richard A. Stillson

     Richard (Dick) Allen Stillson, 78, passed away on January 25 at the home he shared with his family for the past forty years. He renovated the house with his own hands, often with the assistance of his son, Rik, who, like many children of the 1980s, never quite got the hang of how his dad wanted him to hold the flashlight.

     Dick was born on February 27, 1947, in Mishawaka, Indiana. He was the middle child of Beatrice and Gerald Stillson and grew up with two loving brothers, Larry and Phil Stillson. His parents adored him, despite his habit of testing both gravity and their patience by diving off the Merrifield bridge and bringing home snakes and snapping turtles.

     During his years at Mishawaka High School, he was an accomplished wrestler, and as an adult, he played fast-pitch softball and was a very good golfer. One of his favorite pastimes was watching his children and grandchildren play their various sports.

     Earlier this month, on January 5, Dick and his wife, Tami, celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary. Like their wedding, the celebration with Twinkies was quiet and simple, but their love was extraordinary.

     Together, Dick and Tami raised their son Rik (Erica) Stillson, a near mirror image of his father, and their daughters Lindsey (Brian) Roth and Emily (LA) High, and was preceded in death by his daughter, Wendy Lay. He is also survived by nine grandchildren: Kodi (Nicole) Stillson, Mackenzie Stillson, Andrew Stillson, Holly Lay, Valerie Lay, Anna Roth, Henry Roth, Kate High, and Molly High, and three great-grandchildren: Oliver, Brock, and Ty Stillson. Dick spent his life loving and supporting his family in a million small, nameless, beautiful ways.

     Dick resided in the Mishawaka area for most of his life, but Dick and Tami were married in Petoskey, MI. They drove through snow as high as the hood of their Pontiac and through drifts taller than the car before eventually making the wise choice to return to their hometown. Dick returned to barbering and later worked for Federal-Mogul, while continuing to cut hair for friends and family. He gave his grandson, Henry, his first haircut.

     In his later years, Dick enjoyed strolls along the Mishawaka Riverwalk with his beloved dog, Ollie. He is survived by three ornery stray cats that he and Tami rescued from their neighborhood, and probably also by the chipmunk he accidentally let into the house with the cats last summer when his vision was deteriorating. One of Dick’s favorite activities was helping Tami tend their garden, where he spent countless hours weeding. Though he never did manage to rid the yard of clover, anyone who knew him would agree that he more than succeeded in making the world a more beautiful place.

     Loved ones are welcome to gather at Hahn Funeral Home in Mishawaka for a visitation on Friday, January 30th, from 4-6 PM, with a memorial service immediately following at 6 PM.

     Contributions to his memory may be made to the Mishawaka Parks and Recreation Foundation. Mishawaka Parks and Recreation Foundation

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