Richard Roland Blanchard

Richard Roland Blanchard

December 2, 1931 – September 9, 2026

On September 9, 2026, Richard Roland Blanchard peacefully passed from this life into eternity, at home in the presence of family members who live in Jackson, MI.

Richard is survived by his older brother, Raymond Blanchard of Athol, MA, his daughter, Patrice Julienne (Blanchard) Benard of South Carolina, her children, Michael, Sara, David, Steven; his son, Matthew James Blanchard of Las Vegas, NV, wife Sheri (Baker) Blanchard their children, Shelby, Matthew Joseph, Dominic (Isabella-wife) , Samara (Blanchard) Juan Carlo, Shannon; great grandchildren, Matthew Jenson, Samuel, Benjamin, Adelina, Rosemary; his daughter, Ann Mary (Blanchard) Anderson of Michigan Center, Michigan, husband, John Anderson, their children, Natalie, Erin, Ava, Isaac, Levi, and Joseph and his daughter, Kathleen Blanchard of Jackson, MI.

Richard was pre-deceased by his parents Henry and Cecile (Mallet) Blanchard, Athol, Massachusetts, his siblings: Estelle (Blanchard) Smith, Theophile (Jeff) Blanchard, Alberta Blanchard, Annie Blanchard, Howard Blanchard, Norman, Albeny, Francis, Vivian (Blanchard) McDonald, and Leslie, and by his wife, Dorothy (Korleski) Blanchard.

Richard was born to French Canadian immigrants, Henry and Cecile Blanchard of Athol, Massachusetts, as the 12th of 13 children.

At age 15, Richard left home to attend St. Eymard Seminary in, New York, run by the Blessed Sacrament Fathers. He completed high school and higher education as a seminary with the goal of entering the priesthood. In 1959, after prayer and discernment, he departed from the religious order but continued to work with the Fathers as they established a new seminary school in Waupaca, Wisconsin.

Richard met Dorothy Korleski, of Wild Rose, WI, through their mutual friend and optician Dr. Howard Hayes. After a 6-month engagement they were married on August 12, 1961. They had a long and happy marriage of nearly 50 years, until her passing on August 4, 2011.

His work for the Blessed Sacrament Fathers included, but was not limited to, teaching public speaking, directing plays and the choir, as well as groundskeeping and physical plant management.

In 1971 the seminary school closed, so Richard and his family moved to Barre, Massachusetts where he continued to work for Fathers at their formation house. In 1977, the formation house closed and Richard and his family moved to his childhood home on Beacon Street in Athol, Massachusetts.

Richard worked as a micrometer inspector at the L.S. Starrett Co., a world-renown precision tool manufacturer, until his retirement in 1995.

Richard and his family were active parishioners at St. Francis of Assisi parish in Athol. He served as a lector, cantor, and catechist. Richard loved to sing, especially at church. He used gifts and talents of writing and public speaking to defend the Faith.

After retirement, he and Dorothy enjoy many cross-county road trips to Las Vegas, Nevada to stay with and visit family. They moved back to Waupaca, Wisconsin in 2006. After Dorothy’s passing in 2011, Richard remained in Waupaca until 2015 when he moved to Sterling, Virginia to live with his daughter Kathleen.

In 2013, at the age of 81, Richard made the journey of a life with a pilgrimage to Rome, Assisi, and other holy places.

In 2017 Richard and Kathleen moved to Jackson, Michigan, where he enjoyed the friendship and company of family and friends.

After a long and beautiful life with his soul-mate, Dorothy, the gifts of his four children, fifteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, as well as the innumerable friends formed wherever he went, Richard was gifted with a beautiful and peaceful passing from this world into eternity.

Richard will always be remembered for his love of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, his devotion to the Blessed Mother, and teaching the Catholic Faith even up to the day before he passed away. Richard’s love for his family, beautiful music, joyful card and dice games, his sense of humor, laughter, and delight in the simple things of life left a lasting impression on everyone he met.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary Star of the Sea, Jackson on Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 10:00 AM with Fr. John Vinton officiating. A private interment will be held at a later date at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Amherst, Wisconsin.

The family will receive friends at St. Mary’s Church on Wednesday, September 16, 2026 from 9:30 to 10:00 AM.

Richard’s love and pursuit of all that is Good, True, and Beautiful led him to support the Chesterton Academy of St. George from its inception to the present. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Richard’s memory to the Chesterton Academy of St. George. Chesterton Academy of St. George