Richard Joseph Fifelski

Fifelski, Richard Joseph

Age 88, passed away peacefully on May 14th, 2025 after a lengthy stay in hospice.  Richard was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan and spent his career as a pharmacist after graduating from Ferris State University (1958) and completing his service in the Army Reserves.  He is preceded by his wife Therese Fifelski (Lavallee), sister Louise Alflen (Fifelski), son Michael Fifelski, and grandson Joey Fifelski.  He was a devoted father, grandfather and great-grandfather and he is survived by his children Patrick Fifelski, Anne-Therese Shaw (Fifelski), Christopher Fifelski, and James Fifelski and their children and his numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Richard and his wife Therese were heavily involved in their community theater through the Clark Lake Players and Civic Theater, mainly in backstage and behind the scenes roles.  He enjoyed lake life on Browns Lake, instilling a love of the outdoors in his children.  After 21 years, he sold his independent pharmacy in Jackson, Michigan – the Prescription Shoppe and spent a couple of years as a neighborhood pharmacist in Oahu, Hawaii.  He would return numerous times to the islands and fell in love the with people, land and music – collecting many Hawaiian shirts and music CDs.  Richard also loved cars and collected a few classics after his retirement, enjoying the camaraderie of car shows and car rallies, which he would share with some of his grandchildren as his co-drivers.  He was a Kiwanis club member and member and volunteer at St. Rita's Catholic Church in Clark Lake, Michigan for many years.

Richard was a faithful Catholic, devoted to his daily rosary and Divine Mercy chaplet and had special devotion to St. Padre Pio, Blessed Solanus Casey, St. Maximilian Kolbe and St. Joseph.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at St. Rita Catholic Church, Clark Lake with Fr. Thomas Helfrich, O.S.F.S. officiating.  A private interment will be held at St. John's Catholic Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at St. Rita Church on Tuesday, May 27 from 10:00 to 11:00 AM.

Desnoyer Funeral Home
Family Owned for 135 Years