Richard "Dick" Bruce Kalahar

Kalahar, Richard Bruce "Dick"

Of Jackson, passed away Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at the age of 83. Richard was born November 30, 1940 in Saginaw County, Michigan, to Raymond and Dolores (McQueen) Kalahar. His family moved to Jackson when he was in seventh grade. He graduated in 1959 from Jackson St. John High School, where he set the school career basketball scoring record and was chosen by his classmates as "J Boy" for being "especially outstanding" in high school.

On October 6, 1962, he married Janet (Lefere), and she survives with children, Gary (Becky) Kalahar, Karen (Jeff) Lampman, Beth (Dave) Russell, Pat (Lisa) Kalahar, Andy (Wendy) Kalahar and Mick (Hillary) Kalahar. He is also survived by 18 grandchildren: Emily (Nick) Drumm, Erin Kalahar, Adam Kalahar, Ali (Kevin) Schrock, Lindsay Lampman, Mitch Lampman, Travis Russell, Haley Russell, Shannon Russell, Raegan Kurlenda, Karlie Kurlenda, Brady Kurlenda, Cody Kalahar, Mark Kalahar, Courtney Kalahar, Kash Kalahar, Claire Kalahar and Kiley Kalahar; brother, Jim Kalahar; sister, Ruth Westhoff; and numerous nieces, nephews and in-laws. He was preceded by his parents and his brother, Tom Kalahar.

Richard served in the Army National Guard before earning his education degree from Western Michigan University in 1969. He taught health, physical education and business for 31 years at Western High School, where he also was the varsity basketball and baseball coach. Richard taught driver education, including to his grandchildren at "G's Driving School." He was a highly respected high school basketball official for 54 years, working until he was 74, and earning the honor of officiating a state championship game six times. He also officiated Division I college women's basketball. He was one of the founding members of the Jackson Area Officials Association, was the group's basketball rules trainer and served as a mentor to countless new officials. For more than 40 years, Richard maintained the Southwest Little League diamonds, which earned a reputation as some of the best Little League diamonds in the state. For his contributions to Jackson and statewide sports, he earned the Al Cotton Award from the Jackson Citizen Patriot in 1996 and the Vern Norris Award from the Michigan High School Athletic Association in 1999. He was named Michigan's Official of the Year in 1998 and was inducted into the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan Hall of Honor in 2007.  His favorite hobby was golfing, especially the Thursday Night League at Sharp Park.  Richard loved watching his grandkids at their sporting events.

Richard was a member of Queen of the Miraculous Medal Parish, where the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12 Noon on Saturday, December 9, 2023.  A private interment will take place at St. John Cemetery in Jackson.

The family will receive friends at the Desnoyer Funeral Home on Friday, December 8 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM and at the Church on Saturday from 11:00 AM until 12:00 Noon.

For those wishing to make memorial donations, the family appreciates contributions to the Jackson Area Officials Association scholarship fund for new officials, the Southwest Little League and the Lumen Christi Catholic School Endowment.

Desnoyer Funeral Home
Family Owned for 133 Years