Richard Kenneth Marsh

Richard Kenneth Marsh, known to all as Rick, was born on April 27, 1954, in Pontiac, Michigan, and passed away peacefully on March 12, 2026, at the age of 71 in Shelby Township, Michigan.

The son of Oliver Kenneth Marsh and Mary Agnes (Evon) Marsh, Rick grew up in Pontiac alongside his brother and sister. After General Motors purchased their neighborhood, the family moved to Waterford, where he graduated from Waterford-Kettering High School in 1972. His lifelong love of learning led him to Michigan State University, Michigan Tech University—where he studied forestry—and Macomb Community College, where he pursued automotive design.

Faith was a cornerstone of Rick’s life. He participated in medical mission work in Africa, where he cherished time spent with children, and traveled on missions to Italy, Cuba, and Jerusalem, where he was baptized in the Jordan River. He began a nearly 50-year career at General Motors in security before transferring to the Warren Tech Center and later to GM Powertrain, which was located on the site of his childhood home on Beverly Street. His inventive spirit earned him several patents during his distinguished career.

On September 7, 1997, Rick married the love of his life, Lynn Carol Irish, at Devils Ridge golf course in Oxford, Michigan. Their marriage was marked by deep devotion, shared laughter, and tender daily rituals, including Rick bringing Lynn coffee each morning. Together they fostered and rescued many Great Danes, with Clementine holding a special place in his heart.

Rick was an avid sportsman who enjoyed shooting sporting clays and skeet, earning several trophies, and playing golf in both GM and church leagues. He was a dedicated member of Trout Unlimited, an enthusiastic fly fisherman who traveled across the country, and a passionate reader who collected and sold books through his own business, 4WeirdBooks. His early studies in forestry blossomed into a deep commitment to bonsai, and he was an active member of the Four Seasons Bonsai Club of Michigan.

He will be remembered for his gentle kindness, unwavering generosity, quiet curiosity, and the genuine way he made others feel valued. Rick’s greatest joy was found in his life with Lynn and the many people and animals he cared for so deeply.