Richard "Rick" Vanvalkenburgh

Rick VanValkenburgh age 41, died Thursday evening, May 8, at U of M Hospital, Ann Arbor after a three-year battle with leukemia.
He was born April 6, 1962 in Howell to Evelyn (Perkins) VanValkenburgh and the late James VanValkenburgh.
Rick moved to the Pinnebog area with his parents when he was a child and went to school at EPBP Lakers. He was united in marriage to Linda J. King in Bad Axe.
He became a residential carpenter, working with the family business “VanValkenburgh Brothers” and also with Goretski Builders in Port Austin but was forced to retire recently for health reasons.
Rick continued with his carpentry skills building birdhouses and feeder, and other woodcrafts. He was an avid fisherman both on the water and the ice. He also enjoyed hunting deer and small game.
Surviving are his wife, Linda; two sons, Brandon Sammarco of Warren and Ray at home; his daughter, Crystal Sammarco of Bad Axe; two grandchildren, Dominick and Jasmine and his mother, Evelyn Morin of Pinnebog. Also surviving are nine brothers, Robert of Pinnebog, Randy (Lori) of Port Austin, Tom (Carol) of Dectour, TX, Ray (Dawn) of Elkton, Doug of Filion, Steve of PinnebogMike (Tammy) of Deckerville, Jim of Pinnebog and John (Gina) of Caseville. Six sisters, Judy (Lewis) Bannister of Snover, Bobbie (Skip) Churchill of Cass City, Laura (Jim) Stauffer of Pinnebog, Linda (Ken) Wood of Pigeon, Chris (Marv) Swartzendruber of Pigeon and Kathy (Mike) Birchfield of Elkton; two step-brothers, Jim and Ervin; a step sister, Janet VanValkenburgh all of Pigeon and 58 nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be conducted 11:00 AM Monday, May 12, at the Champagne Funeral Chapel, Elkton where friends may call from 2 to 9 PM Sunday and after 10 AM Monday. Burial will be in the Chandler Twp. Cemetery.