Richard "Ric" Cnossen

Richard “Ric” Cnossen was an outgoing and caring man who brought an aura of positivity and strength to each new day. As a loving and devoted husband and father, Ric cherished every moment he spent with his family, sharing much love and laughter. Throughout his life, Ric was selfless and generous with his time and he could easily light up a conversation with his great sense of humor. Always thinking of others before himself, Ric was both blessed by and a blessing to those he loved.

The 1950s were an exciting decade in our nation’s history as America strode confidently from the ashes of World War II into a new age of prosperity. Richard Lee Cnossen entered these changing times on March 23, 1955, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the first of three children born to Casey and Jan (Rhoda) Cnossen. Along with his younger siblings, Kathy and Randy, Ric spent his growing up years in Grandville, one of several smaller cities surrounding Grand Rapids within West Michigan. Like most teenagers, Ric was eager to start driving by the time he was 15, and would practice driving up and down the driveway until the car actually ran out of gas. While another time, he accidentally backed the car into a boulder across the street from his house and had to have his mom come out and steer while he single-handedly lifted the car off the rock.

Ric received his education at Grandville Christian Schools and graduated from Calvin Christian High School in 1973. Thereafter, Ric began driving a truck for Spartan Stores for several years before going back to school with his brother, Randy, at Ferris University in Big Rapids. They both graduated in 1978. A year later, Ric went to work for various manufacturers represented by his father’s company, Wing and Jabaay. After a year of “on the job training,” he worked for 26 years for his father's company. He left to put his vast work experience to good use in a business he and his brother, Randy, started called Eagle Machine Tool; Ric was co-owner and President. Over the years, Ric became a member of a few organizations affiliated with his profession, including the American Machine Tool Distributors Association and the Oriental Order of Groundhogs, an industry fraternity. He also qualified to be a member of Mensa, an organization for people with high IQs, but he declined their invitation.

In December 1978, a wonderful thing happened to Ric – he met the love of his life, Mary. It wasn’t long before the two fell in love and were happily married on November 23, 1979, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Conklin. The newlyweds made their first home together in Jenison, and it was here they welcomed the births of their two sons, Ric Jr. in 1983, and Chris in 1985. Shortly after, Ric, Mary and their two boys moved to Wyoming, and it was here they completed their family with the birth of their daughter, Emilee, in 1992. Ric loved being a father and would do anything for his children. Always attentive, he rarely missed one of their sporting or school activities, and always found time to spend with them at home. In fact, Ric was currently restoring boats with each of his sons. The only girl, Emilee was her Daddy’s little “pumpkin girl” and he loved to tease her too. One of his sayings that typically got a typical teenage eye roll was “Don’t you wish your girlfriends were hot like me?”

Although Ric worked hard to support his family, he always found time to have some fun. He loved the feel of the open road on the back of a Harley, like his father, and he loved the thrill of racing a powerboat around the lake. Ric took great pride in owning several Corvettes and Porches over the years, but his most prized Corvette was the bright blue one he bought himself in 1996 for his 40th birthday. Aside from his cars, Ric was also very passionate about golfing and had played on some of the most prestigious golf courses throughout the U.S., including at Hilton Head, Hawaii, Bermuda, Florida, Arizona and California. Though he and Mary both loved to travel. They had taken several relaxing cruises and vacationed in Hawaii, the Bahamas, and the Grand Cayman Islands, and even ventured overseas, touring Europe and Japan. For Ric, “every day was a holiday” when on vacation (or a golf course).

A true family man, Ric’s happiest moments always involved the time he spent with his loved ones. Ric was a man who cared about everyone he knew, and he expressed this care through his generosity and willingness to always lend a helping hand. His mom remembers the time that Ric carried her washing machine by himself in one of her moves. In Ric's usual joking style, Mary remembers how Ric used to come home with donuts, which he said he was "compelled to do by a passerby". His kind gestures spoke volumes of his character. With his great sense of humor, Ric loved to lighten moods and make others laugh and in doing so, brightened many lives. As Ric used to say, “On a day like today, how can you beat it!”

One thing that upheld Ric throughout his life was his faith in the Lord. He was a longtime member of Ivanrest Christian Reformed Church, where he was an Elder and served on various committees within the church. Ric was also a Youth Group Leader and took part in several mission trips, including one to El Salvador. As parents, he and Mary worked hard to instill these same Christian values upon their children, and they had devotions together every morning before Ric left for work. One of Ric’s favorite Bible verses was Proverbs 27:17: “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

Richard L. “Ric” Cnossen, age 53 of Wyoming, MI, passed away suddenly on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2008, while in church with his family. He was greeted in Heaven by his father, Casey, and mother-in-law, June. Ric is now in God’s bigger house, making everyone laugh and going for Harley and race boat rides with his Dad. He always looked for ways to make people laugh and to help anyone in need. Words cannot express how much he will be missed.

Ric was the most wonderful husband to his wife, Mary, and the greatest Dad to his children, Ric Jr., Chris and Emilee (his pumpkin girl). Also surviving is his mother, Jan Cnossen; his sister and brother-in-law, Kathy and Jerry Mumaw; his brother and sister-in-law, Randy and Linda Cnossen; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Henry and Janice Roman; brother-in-law, Todd Roman; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Ryan and Lori Roman, Lt. Col. Loye and Jill Gau; and many aunts, uncles and nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, December 1, at 11 a.m. at Ivanrest Christian Reformed Church, 3777 Ivanrest Avenue, Grandville, MI. Friends may greet the family on Saturday, November 29, from 7 to 9 p.m. and on Sunday, November 30, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes, Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr NW, Grand Rapids. Memorial contributions may be made to The Emilee Cnossen Education Fund. Please visit Ric’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory or photo with his family or sign his online guest book.