William Richards

William Henry Richards, 78, went home to his Lord on October 30, 2014 while hunting in South Dakota. He was preceded in death by wife Karol (Barrett) Richards of St. Johns, brother and sister-in-law Clyde and Thelma Richards of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, sister and brother-in-law Bernadine and Leon Wilson of Canton, Ohio.

He is survived by wife Mary Ellen (Seekell) Richards of St. Johns, son, Lieutenant Colonels (ret.) Jay and Maureen Richards of Grand Rapids, daughter, Laura and Dr. Paul Rasmussen of Mitchell, South Dakota, step-daughter, Lori and Darryl Brown of Allendale, step-daughter Cathy and Orv Sanke of Grandville, step-son, Scott and Denise Zimmerman of Columbus, Ohio, step-daughter Donnie and Jim Akins of Richland, step-son Barry Zimmerman of Grand Rapids, seven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, 9 step-grandchildren, 6 step-great-grandchildren, and special friends, Jerry and Tammy Hine of DeWitt.

Bill was born in Akron, Ohio to Clyde Austin and Verna Viola (Baldwin) Richards. A graduate of St. Johns High School, he worked and retired from the Clinton County Road Commission. As a member of First Baptist Church of St. Johns, he regularly served as an usher. Bill was extremely proud of his Native American heritage and took the nom de guerre of Tiewash to honor his Indian ancestry. His family delighted in referring to him as "Grandpa Tiewash." Serving in the U.S. Air Force, Bill participated as a weather observer for the 22 detonations of the Hardtack I nuclear tests in the South Pacific in 1958. He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying fishing, hunting and archery. He was also a life-long pigeon fancier, raising, flying and showing Birmingham Roller pigeons. Tiewash had a passion for the incarcerated, donating many hours to programs under the auspices of the Forgotten Man Jail Ministries. He also supported numerous Veterans' charities and Christian missions, including his niece Nancy and Birney Boyd, currently serving as Wycliffe missionaries in Nigeria.

Funeral Services will be Monday, November 10, 2014 at 10:30 a.m., at First Baptist Church of St. Johns with Pastor Tim Knaus officiating, burial to follow at Union Home Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Osgood Funeral Home, 104 E. Cass St., St. Johns, on Sunday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Contributions may be made in lieu of flowers to the Forgotten Man Ministries, 3940 Fruit Ridge Ave. N.W., Grand Rapids, MI, 49544. The family is being served by the Osgood Funeral Homes.