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In memory of
Richard "Dick" Theodore Ortquist, Jr.
December 22, 1933 - March 23, 2021
Dec 22, 1933 - Mar 23, 2021
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Dick's obituary
Dick was born on December 22, 1933 in Muskegon, Michigan to Beatrice Ortquist née Bushman and Richard Theodore Ortquist, Sr. He was the first of three children and surely, secretly gave himself partial credit, where it may or may not have been due, for the awesomeness of his younger sisters, Jackie (Bob d. 2012) Martin and Sharon (Dick) Ward. Dick enjoyed a loving relationship with his sisters his whole life long.
Dick married Betsy Richards in 1958, with whom he had two beloved children, Leslie (Thomas) Ortquist-Ahrens and Bruce (Mindy) Ortquist. He was a delighted grandfather to their children, Nick Ahrens, and Will (Theodore!) and Emma Ortquist, to whom he passed along his keen sense of humor and over-fondness for salt. Dick and Betsy divorced in 1981 but remained caring friends until her death in 2016.
In 1985, Dick married Cathleen (“Caty”) McSkimming, whom he loved and adored until her death just six weeks before his own. Dick enjoyed spending time with Caty’s children, David (Michelle) McSkimming, Cynthia (Rick) Erwin, Janet (Jimmy) Richmond, and Allen (Laura) McSkimming, and their children, Grace McSkimming, Dak and Carson Erwin, and Rachel and Jeremy Richmond, to whom he was known affectionately as “Pops”. Dick and Caty relished the company of Caty’s twin sister Cody Greenwood and her husband Jim, with whom they enjoyed many travel adventures.
Growing up in Muskegon, Dick, a working-class, first-generation high school graduate, received encouragement from his high school Latin teacher to attend Hope College, which he paid for by working factory jobs in the summers. A passionate baseball fan, he joined Hope’s baseball team, a slugging second baseman, and recounted with amusement that he, captain of the baseball team, lived with Whitey, captain of the basketball team, John, captain of the football team, and Jack, president of the Spanish club. He was talented enough to raise the eyebrows, ever so slightly, of an MLB scout, but was a realist about his chances and chose not to pursue this longshot. There was the time, though, watching a game on TV, he was thrilled to see, up on the mound, a pitcher he’d faced in college. He said, “That guy threw aspirin tablets”.
Dick graduated from Hope and taught high school in Grandville, Michigan before resuming his education at the University of Michigan, where he earned a Ph.D. in American History. Seldom thereafter was he to be seen without at least one U-of-M-themed article of clothing (and his ring tone was “Hail to the Victors”). At Michigan, Dick was a student of the esteemed scholar, Sidney Fine, who mentored him and left indelible marks on Dick as an historian and person and who, along with his wife Jean, became lifetime dear friends. Dick went on to enjoy a rich and rewarding, 35-year career as a professor of History and long-time department chair at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio. He cherished his students and colleagues and thoroughly enjoyed teaching, knowing firsthand what a difference an education can make. He was beloved by his students, perhaps excepting those on the wrong end of his one-strike-you’re-out attendance policy. As family members, it is gratifying to meet former students and hear how highly they speak of him, and what a difference he made in their college days.
Dick was active in service/social organizations such as the Kiwanis Club and the Polo Club, and founded the Springfield chapter of Man-to-Man, a support group for men diagnosed with prostate cancer, for which he was awarded Mercy Hospital’s “Cancer Survivor of the Year” in 1999. He sang in the church choir and was a chorus member in several operas staged by the Springfield Arts Council.
Dick enjoyed tennis with Caty and Donkey Kong at Groeber's. He was an avid golfer, playing every month of the year (in Ohio!). He strove for “bogey-golf”, which he approached, at times, and had the once-in-a lifetime par round going before a thunderstorm rolled in, sending the rest of his foursome scrambling for cover, and, after a couple more desperate holes, cut his miracle round short. Dick loved to laugh and gravitated toward funny people. He was the chuckling Ed McMahon to their quick-witted Johnny Carsons (Jack DePree, Bob Cutler, Bob Long, Dennis Roark to name just a few). He was valued and loved by his friends as evidenced by their uncommon loyalty to him.
Dick will be remembered for his humor, his teaching, his devotion to Caty and all those dear to him. He will be remembered for his pen fetish and his Stevia packets and his love of all things Michigan. And for the supreme pleasure he took in a bowl of ice cream. He will be dearly missed.
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In lieu of flowers
Please consider a gift to Berea College.
$865.00
Raised by 12 people
Recent contributions
Recent contributions
In lieu of flowers
Please consider a gift to Berea College.
$865.00
Raised by 12 people
Recent contributions
Recent contributions
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Created with love by
Leslie Ortquist-Ahrens (Dick's daughter) and
Bruce Ortquist (Dick's son).
