Richard A. Armstrong

MARENISCO, Mich. — Richard A. Armstrong, Lake Gogebic, went to be with our Lord and Savior on Dec. 11, 2016, in Ironwood.

He was born on June 20, 1941, in Springfield, Ill. He was united in marriage to the love of his life, Sandy, on Oct. 3, 1981, in Elgin, Ill.

He loved playing golf and was a member of the Gogebic Country Club in Ironwood. He enjoyed snowmobiling, boating and doing woodworking in his woodshop on Lake Gogebic. He had a great love of the Upper Peninsula and always loved living on Lake Gogebic and said this is where he always wanted to reside.

Previous to retiring to Lake Gogebic, he was employed by the Real Estate Trade Association where he was employed as the CEO. Prior to that, he was a District Executive of the Boy Scouts of America.

He earned a certificate for Certified Association Executive of Non-Profit Management from Duke University. Richard has been a member of the Aspirus Ironwood Hospital & Clinics, Inc. Board of Directors and has served as chairman of the Gogebic Range Health Foundation. He was also a member of the Gogebic Community College Foundation Board. He was a member of the Lake Gogebic Chamber of Commerce and received the GCC Member of the Year award from them and also served on the Lake Gogebic Improvement Association.

The Kiwanis Club of Ironwood honored Richard for his 50 years of volunteer service in Kiwanis and he was a current member of the Ironwood club. He always had positive thoughts of any future development and projects for the Gogebic Range.

He is survived by his wife, Sandy; sons, Mark Armstrong (Michele), Largo, Fla., and David Scheitlin, Elgin; daughters, Donna Armstrong, Largo, Corenne McManning (Dan), Clearwater, Fla., and Anne Johnson (Tim), Wayzata, Minn .; six grandchildren, Shannon, Trisha, Elizabeth, Joseph, Leah and Libby; six great-grandchildren, Nathan, Victoria, Freyja, Emma, Kailey and Annabelle.

Richard was a passionate person for community service and also a firm believer in “Your cup is always half full, never half empty.”

A celebration of Richard’s life will be held at the Frick-Zielinski Funeral Home, 304 S. Sophie St., in Bessemer on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 1 p.m., for family and friends, with visitation to follow. Pastor Ted Trudgeon will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Richard’s name to Gogebic Range Health Foundation, N10561 Grandview Lane, Ironwood, MI 49938.

Arrangements are by Range Funeral Service and Crematory, Frick-Zielinski Funeral Home, of Bessemer. To send online condolences, visit rangefuneralservices.com.