Richard Joseph Lobbestael

Richard (Dick) Joseph Lobbestael

9.10.1940 - 5.23.2025

Richard (Dick) Joseph Lobbestael was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, one of Leo and Lillian Lobbestael's 15 children. Following graduation from Wilbur Wright Technical High School, he worked at Nelson Chemicals and was a metals apprentice for General Motors.

He married his Connecticut girl, Jane E. Lehto on June 15, 1963. While they lived in Berkley and Rochester, Michigan, Dick attended Lawrence Technological University in the evenings and graduated with his Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering. While working at GM, he also ran Dick's Collision from home.

In Rochester and later Fenton, Michigan, Dick and Jane hosted many Christians and youth while raising their 11 children. They built their retirement home on Fausset Lake in HowellI, Michigan in 2019.

Jane went to her heavenly home on March 4, 2022, and God blessed Dick with another helpmate, Joyce Urban. They married in Battle Ground, Washington on July 18, 2023, and lovingly took care of one another.

He was greatly loved and will be missed by his children, David (Denise), Cheryl (Scott) Jablonsky, Lisa Anderson, Janice (Kevin) Homola, Michelle (Glen) Macfarlane, Jeffrey (Pamela), Rodney (Kaisa), Karen (Roy) Marttinen, Lori (Rodney) Hendrickson, Joy (Samuel) Scheuble, and Andrea (Tim) Kysar, 75 grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, and his extended family with Joyce. Also grateful to have shared his life are his siblings and the many, many Christians who knew him. 

Dick was preceded by his parents Leo and Lillian Lobbestael, and his wife Jane. 

All his life, Dick was a member and a firm believer in the doctrine taught at the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church.