Richard Emerson Shinn's Obituary
The Reverend Richard E. (Dick) Shinn died peacefully in Remus, Michigan at the age of 89, on July 7, 2017. Dick is survived by his wife of 51 years, Marlene (née Pollock); children Rebecca (Dave) Zultowski, Amy (Steve) Johnson, and Andrew (Sophia); grandchildren Jessica, Alek, Anna, Nicole, Jenna, Angelo, and Kanella; sisters Marilyn Davison, Betty (Herm) Scheele, and brother Frank (Sheri); sisters-in-law Pat (Dennis) Bracey, Barbara Valmassei, and Marguerite Pollock; as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by brothers-in-law Jim and Norm Pollock, Tom Valmassei, and Norton Davison, and sister-in-law Jacque Pollock. Dick was born on Nov. 22, 1927, in Brooklyn, Michigan to Emerson and Marian (née Marquette). He graduated from Michigan State University in 1951 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, and worked at Consumers Power for many years as the Director of Personnel. He later returned to school at Bexley Hall Episcopal Seminary at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, earning a Master of Divinity degree and becoming an ordained priest in 1962. Dick met Marlene while serving at Grace Church Episcopal in Southgate, Mich., and they married on June 25, 1966. During the early years of their marriage, Dick also worked at the Diocesan Office of Michigan in Detroit. In 1975, they moved to Trenton, Mich., where they raised their children and Dick served as priest at St. Thomas Episcopal Church. Dick was an avid golfer and sports enthusiast, and proudly captained his 8th grade basketball team to the state championship. As someone who had actually seen a Detroit Lions championship, every fall he remained hopeful it would happen again. He also loved Detroit Tigers baseball, and his Michigan State football and basketball teams: he stood on his head and kicked his feet in the air when Magic Johnson led the Spartans to the 1979 NCAA championship. He retired from St. Thomas in 1991, and in 1998, Dick and Marlene moved to Canadian Lakes, Mich. He continued to serve many churches in the western Michigan area until he was 85. In addition to playing in multiple golf leagues, Dick was a member of The Canadian Lakes Men's Chorus and Canadian Lakes Bible Study. Even as he battled rheumatoid arthritis and dementia over the last several years, Dick maintained his relentlessly positive and cheerful attitude, and displayed his famous sense of humor right up until the end. A memorial service to celebrate Dick’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 15, at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 323 S. State Street, Big Rapids, Michigan. In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to Manna Food Pantry of Big Rapids.
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