Richard Dykema

DYKEMA - Richard Dykema, 78, passed away December 31, 2009 in Fairbanks, Alaska, surrounded by his loving family after a valiant battle against pancreatic cancer. Richard was born to Nick and Dena Dykema in Hudsonville, MI. He graduated from Holland Christian High School in 1949, Calvin College in 1953, and Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo in 1959. Richard served in the US Army Medical Corps and the Michigan National Guard from 1953 to 1960. He married his wife, Gisela in 1957 while both were stationed at the 97th General Hospital in Germany. From 1960 to 1968 Richard worked for the State of Michigan and the American Red Cross. In 1968 he moved his family to Fairbanks and worked for the Alaska Dept. of Social Services until his retirement in 1987. Richard was an active community volunteer. In addition to being a member of the Pioneers of Alaska, he was a Red Cross Disaster volunteer, provided tax aid to seniors, volunteered at the Senior Center, delivered Meals on Wheels and served on the board of directors for the North Star Council on Aging, and served as volunteer Ombudsman for the Office of Long Term Care. Richard was a kind and generous man, a wonderful father and grandfather, and a loving husband. He was an avid musician and mastered several instruments, especially the trumpet. He also enjoyed traveling, gardening and his pets. Richard is survived by his wife, Gisela; son, Michael (Shelley) Dykema; daughters, Carmen (Mark) Whitmire, Renee Evans (Jim Frechione) and grandson, Samuel Evans, Stephanie (Ernie) Siemoneit and grandsons, Steven and Daniel Siemoneit of Alaska; sister, Harriet Dykema of Jenison; and several nieces and nephews of Michigan. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Albert Dykema. Donations may be made in Richard's memory to the Fairbanks Cancer Treatment Center, PO Box 71396, Fairbanks, Alaska 99707 or www. fairbankshospitalfoundation.com.