Richard A. 'Dick/Grumpy' Cottier

IRONWOOD, Mich. - Richard A. "Dick/Grumpy" Cottier, 86, of Ironwood, retired co-owner and operator of Angelo's Pizza in Ironwood, died peacefully Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014, at Aspirus Grand View Hospital in Ironwood.

He was born Jan. 21, 1928, in Cleveland, son of the late Granville and Ruth (Melhuish) Cottier, attended Cleveland schools, and graduated from West Tech High School in 1946. He then served stateside in the U.S. Army for 18 months. Following his honorable discharge as a corporal, he returned to Cleveland and was employed in factory work, in a dental lab, and in middle management for the Erie-Lackawanna Railroad in Cleveland for 28 years. Moving to Presque Isle, Wis., and later to Ironwood, Dick worked as a lift operator at Blackjack Ski Resort, then opened Angelo's Pizza Restaurant in 1980, operating it with his late son, Jim, and daughter-in-law, Eve, until his retirement in 2011.

Dick was an awesome man who was loved by all. He enjoyed downhill skiing and fishing, and was a member of the American Legion Post in Lansing and Franklin Masonic Lodge in Cleveland. He will be dearly missed.

On Aug. 19, 1950, he married the former Jean Murphy in Cleveland. She preceded him in death on Nov. 25, 1987.

Surviving are a daughter, Julie Tufts, Rochester, Minn .; daughter-in-law, Eve Cottier, Ironwood; four grandchildren, Renee Tufts, Philadelphia, Sharleen (Patrick) McCoy, California, Kelly Cottier, Ironwood, and Richard (Annette) Cottier, Rhinelander, Wis .; three great-grandchildren, Evan McCoy, and Andrew and Marie Cottier; a sister, Nancy (Milton) DePuy, Cleveland; sister-in-law, Doris Thies, Cleveland; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents and wife, Dick was preceded in death by his son, Jim, on Feb. 27, 2008; and brother, Norman.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 11 a.m., preceded by visitation at 10 a.m., at the McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home, 305 N. Lowell St., in Ironwood, with the Rev. Bruce Estola, pastor of the Apostolic Lutheran Church in Ironwood, officiating.

Full military rites will be accorded by the Ironwood American Legion Post 5 Honor Guard.

Cremation will follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to a charity or organization of one's choice.

Arrangements have been entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood, where condolences may be expressed online at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.