Richard G Downs, Jr

Richard G Downs, 62, of Kalamazoo, passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully, at his home on Friday, Nov 15, 2024. Rick was born in Battle Creek on March 17, 1962, to Richard “Dick” and Melinda (Jones) Downs. As a St Patrick’s Day baby, green was his favorite color, and he always loved the parties everyone threw for “him” on his birthday.

Rick was a 1980 graduate of Portage Northern High School. He had so many friends and was so loved by them, and to this day, has been able to keep in contact with them through Facebook. He was always the first friend to send birthday wishes to everyone he knew. We have been flooded with calls, texts, and posts, as everyone loved Rick. One of his greatest wishes of his life came true when he became a father to his son, Brock, in 1992, and his daughter, Taylor, in 1995. He absolutely loved being their father and they brought him immense joy and love. They have many happy memories of growing up with a dad that was so loved by everyone that met him. Rick enjoyed watching Brock play sports through school and he loved to hear Taylor sing and take her to Karaoke.

On Friday the 13th of September 2013, Rick married the true love of his life, Ethel, at a small and quick ceremony at the county courthouse as the newlyweds had an important football game to get to. Ethel’s son, Clay, was a senior in high school and the Parchment Panthers were having quite a season. They went on to beat Jackson Lumen Christi in the first round of the divisional high school playoffs that year. Rick said it was the greatest game he ever had the privilege of watching. This began their beautiful, blended family’s love of the game and they would continue to build adventures around the sport they loved so much. Rick and his family planned vacations around the Detroit Lion’s schedule and their goal was to visit every NFL stadium. Together they were able to travel to games in Nashville, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Tampa Bay, and had just returned a few weeks ago from Arizona where his Lions beat the Cardinals.

Sundays at the Wilkey-Downs compound were filled with family and friends, crockpots of food, steak on the grill, and Bud Light in hand, and everyone sporting Honolulu Blue attire. Family was Rick’s number one love, thought, concern, and purpose. Rick always did for others before himself. Ethel always beamed when she bragged that from the day Rick came into her life, she never poured her own cup of coffee, pumped her own gas, opened her car door, or took out the trash. Ethel was Rick’s world. Everything he did in life was for her, their children, and their grandchildren. He was an incredible husband and an amazing father, and he always thanked Ethel for allowing him to love her boys unconditionally and be their stepdad. Rick loved so big and deeply.

In April of 2022, Rick and Ethel took their family to Utah to visit Zion and Bryce Canyon. It was the trip of a lifetime for them. Rick loved starting his day with coffee with his bride and giving thanks for his beautiful view in the home that he and Ethel (and many family and friends) helped to restore and bring back to life. Rick was a skilled man who wasn’t afraid to take on any project or repair. There was nothing this man could not fix, build, or create. He loved to fish–but really, he loved to bait Ethel’s hook and take off all the fish she caught. He would sit back in his captain’s chair and give fishing advice even though none of us needed it. He couldn’t help himself. He loved taking his granddaughter, Miss Austin Rae, fishing. He taught her not to be afraid to touch a fish and to always give it a kiss before throwing it back. He looked forward to this coming summer teaching his grandson, Emmet “Big Man”, how to fish. He cherished the times when his daughter Taylor and her friend Eddie would come over to spend time on the boat with him. Before his son, Brock, moved overseas, they too spent many days enjoying time on the water together fishing.

Rick and Ethel loved to travel. One of their favorite places to visit was Fort Meyer Beach in Florida. They enjoyed walking the beach, beginning at access #19. They loved sharing the sunsets together. They traveled to Cancun, cruised to Honduras, Belize, and Cozumel, and in 2023, spent their 10-year anniversary in Hawaii. Aside from his home on Campbell Lake, Rick’s favorite place was the Upper Peninsula. His bride grew up there, and he took every opportunity to bring her back home. He felt peace in the beautiful God’s country of the U.P. He enjoyed rides in the woods with his father-in-law, Bear (Rick always joked that Bear was a year younger than he was), where they Jeeped through backcountry, admiring waterfalls and the breathtaking views. He called Ethel’s mom, Jackie, “mom” which made her and Ethel so happy.

Rick and Ethel first met back in 1992 when they both worked at Phoenix Properties. Rick went on to spend many years working for the Sisters of St. Joseph, where his job was taking care of the nuns and the beautiful Mother Church at Nazareth. In 2020, he began working for Plaza Corp. and was grateful for his time there.

Rick lived an incredible life and was loved by many. He is survived by his bride, Ethel; his son, Brock James Downs, and daughter-in-law, Manwah, from Dongguan, China; daughter, Taylor Lin Downs, and her special friend, Eddie Pollock, of Royal Oak; stepson and golf and fishing buddy, Mitchell Boyd Wilkey, of Kalamazoo; stepson, Clayton James Wilkey, and daughter-in-law, Madison Wilkey, of Kalamazoo, and his beloved grandchildren, Miss Austin Rae Wilkey and Emmet “Big Man” Mitchell Wilkey, of Kalamazoo; step-son, Greg Florence, of Portage, and his adopted and very special daughter, Nicole Bhola, of Mary Esther, FL; his mother- and father-in-law, Larry “Bear” and Jacqueline Budreau, of Baraga; brothers-in-law, Dan (Lara) Oles of Kaleva and John Jones of Macomb; his brother, Ron, and sister, Rachel, and their families; nephews, Patrick (Kenna) Huffstutter, and their daughters, Corbin and Riley of Centerville; Zach (Kennedy) Huffstutter and their children, Marlee and Cole of Kalamazoo; niece, Samanatha (Sam) Stephens, and their son, Cooper, of Kalamazoo; nephew, Steve and Jenny Oles, of La Crosse, Wisconsin; many aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Dick and Melinda Downs, of Delton, and his cherished grandparents, Gordon and Ethel Downs.

A gathering in celebration of Rick’s life will be held on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Langeland Family Funeral Homes Burial & Cremation Services, 3926 S 9th St, Kalamazoo, MI 49009, with time for sharing memories of Rick from 6:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Rick's family would like to welcome and encourage guests to wear their favorite Detroit Lions attire.

Memorial contributions may be made in Rick’s honor to Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) or American Diabetes Association.