H. Richard Morgenstern's Obituary
H. Richard Morgenstern, age 82, died Friday afternoon at Harbor Hospice’s Poppen Residence.
Morgenstern was born in Detroit on July 21, 1933 to Carl and Margaret (Rogers) Morgenstern. He and his brother Roger grew up in Wilmette, IL where he had a variety of summer jobs, from being a “soda jerk” to a caddy and a garbage man, or as his mother liked to say, an employee of the city’s sanitation department.
He graduated from DePauw University, Greencastle IN, in 1955. After accepting a job in New York City with Citibank, he joined the U.S. Navy for two years, receiving an honorable discharge in 1957. On January 13, 1962, he married the former Catherine Cheatham Anderson, who preceded him in death in 1981. On April 22, 1983 he married the former Nancy Kendall McNiff and she survives him, along with their combined family of seven children and 17 grandchildren: Robert McNiff, Jr. of Norton Shores and children Robert and Michael, Geoffrey (Sharynlyn) Morgenstern and daughter Marnye of Bloomingdale, IL, William (Shonda) McNiff and children Oliver and Ella Evans and Nathan McNiff of Muskegon, Roger (Michelle) Morgenstern and children Patrick, Emily and Nicholas of Norton Shores, Douglas (Jennifer) Morgenstern and children Benjamin, Cecilia and Thomas of Traverse City, David (Julie) McNiff and children Carlie, David and Ryan of Norton Shores and Margaret (Jeffrey) Tuori and children Catherine and Samuel of Ada. Survivors also include his sister-in-law Jean Morgenstern Kramer of Naperville IL and her three sons, James, Steven and Sherman whom he considered his own children after his brother Roger L. Morgenstern’s death from cancer in 1982.
Richard moved his young family to Muskegon in 1964 to join the Muskegon Bank and Trust Company (later First of America Bank). He became bank president in 1967 and continued in that role until retiring in July 1993 as community bank president and vice chairman of First of America West Michigan. He was a tireless supporter of Muskegon, with more than 30 years of service on the board for Hackley Hospital, including campaign chairman for a major hospital expansion in the late 1970s. He also provided volunteer leadership to numerous other organizations, including United Way, the Muskegon Economic Growth Alliance, Goodwill Industries of Muskegon, Cherry County Playhouse, Muskegon Civic Theatre, the Muskegon Museum of Art, the West Michigan Symphony and the Muskegon Rotary Club, where he was past-president. He cared deeply about the future of his adopted hometown of Muskegon and continued active in community activities well after retirement. He also enjoyed traveling across the U.S. and all over the world with Nancy and their friends, as well as spending time with his children and grandchildren and attending their many athletic events and school performances.
The family would like to express its sincere gratitude to the staff of Harbor Hospice and the Poppen Residence for their care and compassion in Richard’s final days, as well as the staff of Hackley Hospital, VNS home care, Comfort Keepers and the entire staff at Dr. Robert Brown’s office.
The FUNERAL SERVICE for Richard will be held 11:00AM Thursday, April 28, 2016 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1006 Third Street, Muskegon, MI 49440, with the Rev. Father Patrick S. Finn presiding. VISITATION with Richard’s family will be 2-4:00 PM and 6-8:00PM Wednesday, April 27, 2016 at The Lee Chapel, 6291 S. Harvey St., Norton Shores, MI 49444 (231-798-1100). You are also invited to sign the family’s online Guestbook at www.sytsemafh.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church or Harbor Hospice.
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