Raymond Reck Obituary
Raymond Reck, 89, of Bridgman, Michigan passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 surrounded by his family.
Born on May 23, 1935 in Lansing, Michigan to parents Stephen and Effie Reck, Ray graduated from St. Mary’s Catholic High School in Lansing, where he met his future wife, Patricia (née Billings). Ray attended Michigan State University and gained early admittance to the University of Detroit Dental School where he earned his doctorate in dentistry. Ray opened his dental practice in Three Oaks, MI in 1960, later moving it to the Chikaming Medical Center in Harbert for over ten years, and then moving it to Sawyer. His son joined the dental practice in 1989 and continues it to this day. Ray eventually enjoyed the flexibility of working part-time whenever he was available because he always loved seeing and talking to his patients.
Ray and Pat were married in 1956 and recently celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary. They raised their three children in St. Joseph. Ray was an active member of St. Agnes Catholic Church, including singing in the choir. Over the years, he was active in the Detroit District Dental Society, Lakeland Dental Society, the Chicago District Dental Society, a past president of the Michigan Association of Professions, a member of the Knights of Columbus, a past member of the Chikaming Country Club, and he enjoyed volunteering for many years at the Krasl Art Center’s annual Art Fair on the Bluff. Ray and his family loved spending time in northern Michigan, where he and Pat have been members of Birchwood Farms Golf & Country Club in Harbor Springs for the past 46 years.
Ray's love of Lionel and model trains began as a small child and continued by attending annual LCCA train conventions. He enjoyed sharing his passion for trains with both family and patients, as he installed a train which would run on a track above two of the dental office’s patient rooms. Ray and Pat loved to travel to many places, from Quebec to Tahiti, from Alaska to the Bahamas, and numerous trips to Europe, England and Ireland. One place they returned to annually for many years was Hawaii.
Ray is survived by his wife, Pat, sons Dr. Matthew (Kimberle) Reck and David (Kathleen) Reck, daughter Janice (Christopher) Cronin, grandchildren Taylor Reck, Kyle Reck, Christopher (Colette) Reck, and Danielle Reck, great-grandson Ryland McLaughlin, brother Stephen (Sandra) Reck, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be at Starks-Menchinger Chapel, St. Joseph, MI, on Monday, July 8, 2024 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. Catholic Mass will be held on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at 11:00 am, at St. Agnes Catholic Church, Sawyer, MI. Private burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the River Valley Senior Center, rvseniorcenter.org, and to the St. Joseph Public Schools Foundation, sjpsfoundation.org.
