Michael Alan Richardson
September 24, 1957 — October 25, 2023
Michael Alan Richardson, 66, of Marion, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, surrounded by his family at home. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Sunday, October 29, 2023, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, located at 8300 C Avenue in Marion, where the family will greet friends from 11:30 a.m. until the service time. Pastor Alice Murray will officiate. Interment will follow at Oak Shade Cemetery in Marion. A livestream of the funeral service may be accessed at
https://stmarkscr.online.church/
beginning at 1 p.m. The Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Marion is assisting the family with arrangements.
Michael was born on September 24, 1957, in Dayton, Ohio, the son of Ralph J. and Barbara E. (Laughman) Richardson. He was a 1976 graduate of Linn-Mar High School, went on to attend Kirkwood Community College and the University of Phoenix. On October 4, 1986, Michael was united in marriage to Gayle L. Smith in Marion. He worked as an Electronics Electrician at Rockwell Collins until his retirement in 2019. Michael was a member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Marion. He and his wife coordinated the Marriage Course as well as the Weekend to Remember for many years. He enjoyed woodworking and building projects for his family ranging from desks to loft beds. He loved the Green Bay Packers, visiting wineries with his lovely wife, and spending time with his kids and grandkids.
Michael was known to be relational, dedicated, hardworking, and goofy. He was a life-long learner and loved to share what he was learning with those around him. He prioritized his family and raised them to take care of one another. He loved to joke around and tried not to take life too seriously. But above all, Michael loved his Lord and Savior, and made sure to boast about Him to anyone who would listen. Instead of weakening his faith, Michael’s journey with ALS led to it growing stronger as he drew nearer to meeting Jesus face-to-face. All who knew and loved Michael, will miss him dearly but are overjoyed knowing he has been made whole again in Heaven after a long, hard battle with ALS.
Michael is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife of 37 years, Gayle; three children, Kendra (Steven) Starkey of Anamosa, Iowa, Ashlee (Vince) Schrock of Marion, Iowa and Taylor (Mikaela) Richardson of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; five grandchildren, Beckett and Harper Starkey, Miles and Maxwell Schrock, and Adalynn Richardson; brother, Steve (Eleanor) Richardson of Ely, Iowa; sister, Cheryl (Mark) Millsap of Olathe, Kansas; and brother-in-law, Don Carpenter of The Villages, Florida.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Barbara Richardson; and sister, Cindy Carpenter.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Michael’s memory may be directed to Iowa City Hospice for patients experiencing ALS.
Please share a memory of Michael at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
Michael was born on September 24, 1957, in Dayton, Ohio, the son of Ralph J. and Barbara E. (Laughman) Richardson. He was a 1976 graduate of Linn-Mar High School, went on to attend Kirkwood Community College and the University of Phoenix. On October 4, 1986, Michael was united in marriage to Gayle L. Smith in Marion. He worked as an Electronics Electrician at Rockwell Collins until his retirement in 2019. Michael was a member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Marion. He and his wife coordinated the Marriage Course as well as the Weekend to Remember for many years. He enjoyed woodworking and building projects for his family ranging from desks to loft beds. He loved the Green Bay Packers, visiting wineries with his lovely wife, and spending time with his kids and grandkids.
Michael was known to be relational, dedicated, hardworking, and goofy. He was a life-long learner and loved to share what he was learning with those around him. He prioritized his family and raised them to take care of one another. He loved to joke around and tried not to take life too seriously. But above all, Michael loved his Lord and Savior, and made sure to boast about Him to anyone who would listen. Instead of weakening his faith, Michael’s journey with ALS led to it growing stronger as he drew nearer to meeting Jesus face-to-face. All who knew and loved Michael, will miss him dearly but are overjoyed knowing he has been made whole again in Heaven after a long, hard battle with ALS.
Michael is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife of 37 years, Gayle; three children, Kendra (Steven) Starkey of Anamosa, Iowa, Ashlee (Vince) Schrock of Marion, Iowa and Taylor (Mikaela) Richardson of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; five grandchildren, Beckett and Harper Starkey, Miles and Maxwell Schrock, and Adalynn Richardson; brother, Steve (Eleanor) Richardson of Ely, Iowa; sister, Cheryl (Mark) Millsap of Olathe, Kansas; and brother-in-law, Don Carpenter of The Villages, Florida.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Barbara Richardson; and sister, Cindy Carpenter.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Michael’s memory may be directed to Iowa City Hospice for patients experiencing ALS.
Please share a memory of Michael at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Michael Alan Richardson, please visit our flower store.