Richard Jung

Richard Radde “Dick” Jung left this life to join his Lord and Savior Jesus on Monday, April 21, 2014, at the age of 89. He was born on the family farm in Lawrence MI April 30, 1924, the only child of Walter and Lena Jung.  Upon graduation from Lawrence High School, he attended Michigan State College for two years, before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1943.  He was trained in meteorology, and served as a flight navigator and trainer.  He served overseas in Germany after WWII, guarding the art and artifacts stolen by the Nazis.  Upon his honorable discharge, he returned to Michigan State and graduated with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 1949. While checking on his G.I. benefits at the court house in St. Joseph, he met the love of his life, Annabelle Martin, a social worker, and the two were married June 18, 1949 in Benton Harbor Michigan.  After jobs as engineer at Allis-Chalmers in Milwaukee, Ross Carrier and Whirlpool Corp. in Benton Harbor, he took a position at Clark Equipment, and moved to Battle Creek in 1956.   He was a development engineer for such products as electric lift trucks, the Clark Cortez (one of the first recreational vehicles), and Load Glide, which moved cargo and heavy equipment on a pallet supported by air.  He was instrumental in using computers in the design and testing process, and was granted ten U.S. patents while working for Clark.  He retired as Chief Mechanical Engineer in 1982. Always entrepreneurial, he and a partner started a side business, designing the machinery to automate the wood pallet making process.  Upon retirement, he along with partners opened Technical Arts, a computer assisted design Company which produced repair and technical manuals for a number of companies.  At age 69, he designed and built by hand his retirement home. He was a lifelong faithful Lutheran, serving his Lord on many committees in the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, as a member of WELS Kingdom Workers, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Battle Creek, and at St. James Lutheran Church in Portage. He had over 50 years perfect attendance as a member of the Battle Creek Host Lions Club, serving in many local and regional leadership positions including President.  He was a MSU Master Gardener, active in the Leila Arboretum Society, and was involved in the Irving Park Rose Garden, the Leila Arboretum Children’s Garden, and the Historic Bridge Park.  He also served many years as a Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE )volunteer. Dick is survived by four children – Walter Jung (Christine) of Lansing MI., Susan Simpson (Dennis) of Plymouth MN., Elizabeth Bitter (Mark) of Tulsa OK., and William Jung (Vickie) of Grandville MI., ten grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his wife Annabelle in 2007, and great-grandaughter Isabella Zimmerman in 2009. At his request, cremation has taken place. Interment will take place at the Fort Custer National Cemetery.  A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 14, 2014 at 11:00 AM, at the Richard A. Henry Funeral Home, 703 Capital Ave. S.W., Battle Creek MI, Rev. Mark Gieschen officiating.  His family will greet family and friends at the funeral home on Friday from 6-8 PM, and one hour prior to the service on Saturday. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made in Dick’s memory to St. James Lutheran Church, 2381 Romence Rd., Portage Michigan 49024, Lions of Michigan Foundation, 570 Executive Dr., Lansing MI 48911, or the Leila Arboretum Society, 928 W. Michigan Ave., Battle Creek MI 49037.

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