Richard DeVries Obituary

Dear DeVries Family,

It is with great sadness I've learned of Dick's passing. My deepest sympathy and condolences to each and every one of you.

Although it is already seven years of my moving from two doors away of the DeVries Market, I still miss it sorely; more so it's wonderful staff. Dick was right at the top with his ever ready smile and helpful personality. Likewise the rest of the family right on his heels.

Treasure all the wonderful memories of a life well lived, for Dick left behind much to remember and hold close. Dick will be greatly missed, but really not that far away.

God has welcomed Dick with open arms, to embrace within His glory now.

God Bless and keep you all with Love, Vera

Hello DeVries Family,
So sorry to hear of Dick's passing. He always had a kind word and friendly greeting. A couple years ago he was escorting a blind lady from the neighborhood out of the store. "Dick!" someone from the back called. "Your wife is on the phone!"
"Tell her I'm with my girlfriend," was his response.
Truly a nice guy, someone who made your day brighter whenever you saw him.

Sshhh! If you listen carefully, you can hear the choir of heavenly angels, joyously singing, "Welcome Home, Dick!". But how we shall miss him! Dick was such a blessing to me and my daughter; especially when she was sick and out of school. Dick would take a special interest in her, which continued to her adulthood! He set the legacy for his family, and that is how I know you all will be OK. His life was an example on how God wants us to live!

De Vries Family,
We are so sorry to hear of Dick's passing. He will be remembered with a great grin and a warm welcome every time we saw him. God Bless.

Dear DeVries Family,

Sadness fills my heart to hear of this wonderful man's passing. He was truly a gentle man, one with spirit and always a twinkle in his eye. I will miss seeing him and saying "hi handsome". He always talked about his beloved Clara and was so proud of his family. You all will be in our thoughts and prayers. It was an honor and a privilege to have known this warm and caring person.

My thoughts and prayers are with all of you!
Most sincerely,
Dawn Kolzow

Dick was the best I Love your dad.
He would give me hard time so i would give a hard time too Know that
he has gone home and you will see him again. I love you all
God Bless Susie Miller

Dick was always so kind to Al, myself and Joanne--we shall all miss him. Our deepest sympathy to the three boys and their mother. God Bless You!!

I can't tell you how much our family will miss Dick. I never left your store without a smile on my face if I saw him. He always had a joke or wisecrack - sometimes a repeat. A few times I brought my mother-in-law in the store and he would ask me, "what's your sister's name?" He was a very special man who loved people, big and small, old and young. We are so sorry for your loss. Love, Mary and Dave Doyle

We will really miss seeing Dick, Sr in the store. He was always so friendly, helpfull and eager for conversation. As a merchant he truly lived up to the saying " we're not happy until you are". His passing out pretzles as you checked out will long be remembered. May he rest in peace.
The Bracht Family
Phil, Veronica, Bridget & Eamon

Dear Mrs. DeVries, Dick Jr., Wayne, and Dan,

It is with such a heavy heart that I write this note. I want you to know how sorry I am to hear about the death of your husband and father. It is difficult for me to truly understand your feeling of loss.
I have been thinking of Dick over and over since Wednesday. How much I am going to miss his conversation, smile, warmth, & good spirit. The great loss I am feeling reveals to me the importance of the DeVries business and family in my day to day life. I wish I would have taken the time to tell him how grateful I am for his friendliness and how what he built in DeVries with his sons is why living in LaGrange is great.
There wasn’t one conversation I had with Dick that he didn’t mention his family. He inspired me with his commitment to family and business.
I hope your many great memories of him help you through this difficult time. You all are in our thoughts and prayers. Fondly, Mary Carol Racelis and family

Dick was always friendly and funny.
He was a good man and one who we respected greatly. We never heard him say an unkind word. We will miss seeing him at the grocery
store. Our deepest sympathy to the whole family. He will be missed.

Dick modeled for all of us what it meant to honor family, work hard, maintain a sense of humor, and rise to the occasion. We try to stop in when we are back in town because Dick, Dan, Dick and Wayne are such a big part of our fond memories from living in LaGrange for all those years.
All of the Browns send their sympathy.

I am so very sorry to hear about Mr. DeVries passing away. What a wonderful man who has passed along so many smiles and so much joy to those of us who frequent the store. I always looked forward to seeing his bright eyes smiling. We need more folks in this world like Mr. DeVries who with a pretzal rod and a smile could make you feel like family. God Bless his wife Clare and his Family... may you all remember how very blessed you are to have had such a special man in your lives, he will surely be missed by many...

You know I love 'Daddy Dick', as my family calls him, and so did my kids. He was extended family to us. He gave me my first job, which was, by the way, my favorite job. I am still, to this day, fixing other people's shelves, making sure all the items are rotated and 'faced' to look nice, just as he taught me. I'm currently in the process of trying to teach my kids how to count back change just like he taught me--instead of just tossing it all in your hand, like they do today. He was such a great man, with such integrity, and heart. My thoughts and prayers are with you, as I know it will be tough to wrap your head around the fact that he's not going to be around anymore. He will be greatly missed.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to the De Vries family.

Dick was a good man. We will dearly miss him. He was beloved by thousands of customers who he served for decades in the family's LaGrange grocery store. The personal relationship he built in the community is something you just don't see anymore, but for Dick it was natural. He seemed to know what was important, and he passed that on to his sons, and radiated it to his customers.

When it's our turn to join him, I hope he'll be there to greet us with a pretzel and a smile.

We were so sad to hear about Dick's passing. He was the best, and we will miss seeing his smiling face! Dick treated everyone like family, and we are blessed that he touched our lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.

Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. He was a wonderful man.

Sincerely,
Michele & Robert Giachetti
Gia Villa, Inc.

We will all miss that smiling,, flirting happy, lovable man. It was a joy to know him. We know he is smiling down on us and laughing at all the crazyness going on here. You will be missed Dick...
Love, The Soyak's Barb, Tony, Jillian and Hunter...

Offering our deepest condolences during this difficult time.