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LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Richard Joseph DePuydt, 77, died Sunday, April 26, 2009, at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Hospital in Las Vegas, Nev.

Dick, as he was known to his family and friends, was born in St. Nicholas on Feb. 13, 1932, the son of the late Gerard and Violet DePuydt. Dick graduated from Perkins High School in Perkins and with an associate degree in business administration from Northern Michigan University in Marquette.

On Dec. 1, 1951, Dick married the former Peggy Ann Phalen in Nahma. During the early 1950's, he was a proud member of the Operating Engineers Local No. 324 of Escanaba and helped construct the Mighty Mackinac Bridge connecting Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas. Dick served with the Michigan State Police from 1960 to 1988 as a state trooper and advanced to administrative officer prior to his retirement in June 1988. His MSP Post assignments were Bay City, East Tawas and Iron River. In 1988 Dick, with his wife, Peggy, moved to Lake Havasu City, Ariz., where they have since resided, summering in Michigan. He served with the Lake Havasu City Police Department as police service assistant for five and one half years.

Dick was an avid sports enthusiast, trophy bowler and golfer, a member of the American Golf Association, London Bridge Golf Course, and the Benevolent People of the Elks (BPOE) of Lake Havasu. He was also a member of the Michigan State Police Command Officer's Association, Inc; and the Michigan State Police Troopers Association.

Dick is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Peggy Ann DePuydt of Lake Havasu City, Ariz.; daughters, Jody Ann Tousignant (Mark) of Iron River, Glenna Jean Hale (Alan) of Milan, Mich., Richelle Diana DePuydt-Gagne (Gary) of Iron River; son, Thomas Allen DePuydt (Amy) a Lake Havasu City police officer; brothers, Donald (Beverly) DePuydt of Perkins, Alan (Betsy) DePuydt of Perkins, Reginald (Mary) DePuydt of Escanaba; sisters, Dolores (George) Neurohr of Perkins; Kathleen (Larry) Perrine of Austin, Texas; Carole (Alan) Moser of Rapid River; grandchildren, Joe Benishek of Marquette: Kirby Benishek of Wausau, Wis.; Todd Benishek of Iron River, Ben Zukowski of Milan, Mich., Chris Zukowski of Milan, Mich., Michael DePuydt of Lake Havasu City, Ariz.; Katie DePuydt of Lake Havasu City, Ariz.; one great-grandchild, Blaiden Benishek of Wausau, Wis.; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by an infant son, Richard; a brother, Kenneth; wife, Estelle DePuydt of Perkins; brothers-in-law, George (Dolores) Neurohr, Alan (Carole) Moser of Rapid River; and one great-grandchild,MacKenzie Elizabeth Zukowski.

A memorial Mass for Dick will be Saturday, June 27, at 11 a.m. at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Perkins with Rev. Fr. Jacek Wytklo, Rev. Fr. Gil Neurohr and Rev. Fr. Emmett Norden officiating. A luncheon will immediately follow services in the church fellowship hall. Burial will take place at 2 p.m. at the Baldwin Township Cemetery in Perkins. In lieu of flowers, Dick's family requests donations to establish a memorial fund dedicated to research of Wegener's granulomatosis vasculitis. Donations may be sent to the Skradski Funeral Home, 706 Wisconsin Ave., Gladstone, MI 49837, which will then be forwarded to the family.

For additional information or to leave the DePuydt family a message of condolence, go to www.skradski-boycefuneralhomes.com