Kurt James Richmond

Kurt J. Richmond, 81, of Caseville, MI, passed away on Sunday, August 24 from a battle with cancer and COPD. Kurt was born on September 19, 1943, in Caseville, MI in the house his grandparents built and where he resided for the last 27 years.

He was preceded in death by his father, James “Joy” Richmond, his mother Amanda Richmond, his sister Shirley Buschlen, and beloved dog, Max.

Kurt loved farming (most of the time) and began at the age of five, when his father sat him in the driver’s seat of a truck on top of wood blocks so he could drive the load of corn to the Co-op Elevator. In the early days, he had milk cows, pigs, and chickens. He harvested corn, navy beans, wheat, and sugar beets. Weeds were his nemesis and Round Up was his friend. You’d often find him riding their John Deere gator waging his war on overgrowth.

While farming all his life, he also worked as a postal clerk, police officer, sheriff’s deputy, and truck driver. He was proud to carry his Sheriff’s badge as an honorary deputy. He started Shoreline Snowplowing when he was 16 and plowed driveways in the Caseville area for almost 65 years.

Kurt loved hot rods, especially his prized 1930 Model A Ford that he thoroughly restored, repainted at least five times, raced at dragstrips, showed at car shows, and drove in parades across the county. He enjoyed cruising Caseville, “getting on it,” thrilling whoever was his passenger or in the rumble seat, and wowing watchers with the souped-up Chevy 350 motor that he rebuilt. Kurt enjoyed listening to ‘50s and ‘60s music, collecting antiques, gambling with his wife, landscaping, creating paths in the woods for family walks with his trusty International, spending time goofing around and playing games with his family.

Kurt loved sweets but there was nothing sweeter than or that he loved more than his girls. Kurt was a devoted husband to Gail Richmond for 60 years, a doting dad to Andrea Richmond, and loving Boppa to Lillian Deering. He was a father-like uncle to Kyle Buschlen and had several nieces and nephews. Kurt was a treasured pet dad to his dog Phoebe, cat Hungry Howie, and many farm kitties that he tamed and nurtured back to health.

Kurt wished to be cremated without a service. Donations in Kurt’s memory can be made to the Thumb Animal Shelter or the American Cancer Society .

Forever our love. Miss you always.