Obituary for Richard “Dick” Earnest Schrauben

Richard “Dick” Earnest Schrauben, passed away on December 3, 2018, at the age of 91. He was born in Riley Township, Clinton County, on August 10, 1927, the son of John and Amelia (Feneis) Schrauben. He was the youngest of 14 children.

Dick was a lifelong resident of Portland, a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, past member of the Church Choir, and the Knights of Columbus Council #2168. He enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren play sports, traveling with his wife while visiting all but four of the States. They also enjoyed trips to Germany, London, and Puerto Rico. Dick also enjoyed playing euchre, going to the casino (especially with his daughters on weekend Daddy/Daughter trips after the passing of his wife). He loved the outdoors, having grown up on a farm, loved birds, especially cardinals and having his own pigeons even into adulthood, sitting on his front porch which he said was the best porch in town to sit on, but above all, he loved his family, treasuring all the times spent together at his cottage on Clifford Lake.

His father died when Dick was just four years old, so as soon as his siblings finished 8th grade, they went to work on the family farm. He joined the Navy in 1945 and was discharged in 1946, soon after World War II had ended and then spent three years in the Reserves. He received his Barber’s License but quickly decided that was not what he wanted to spend his life doing. He got a job at the Portland Review and Observer as a Type Setter/Printer, working for his future in-laws, Fred and Katherine Mauren. Upon the sale of the Portland R&O, Dick went to work for the Lansing State Journal as a Classified Advertisement Salesman for 25 years, retiring in August of 1989.

Dick married the love of his life, Margaret Mauren, on May 26, 1951 and they were happily married for 55 years until her death on July 28, 2006. He was also preceded in death by infant brother, Harold and infant sister, Adeline; brothers, Herman Sr., Isadore, Raymond, Clarence, Edwin, and John; sisters, Martha Doll, Agnes Stump, Mildred Wight, and Alice Veltman. Dick is survived by his children, Keith (Carol) Schrauben, Ann (Greg) Lantzy, Kathy (Edmund) Hermelyn, Amy (Bob) Hitchcock, and Kevin (Kris) Schrauben; 13 grandchildren, Mallory (Jake) Strotheide and Brett Schrauben, Michael (Stacy), David, and Thomas Lantzy, Mark and Ryan Hermelyn, Michelle (Tony) Smith, Caitlin (Nic) Chambers, Lindsey (Jake) Thelen, and Kendall, Brendan, and Mara Schrauben; nine great-grandchildren, Maylee and Kasen Strotheide, Macie, Avery, and Jayce Smith, Calvin Chambers, Reid and twins, Cade and Addie Thelen. Dick is also survived by his sister, Helen Kavanagh, sisters-in-law, Mae Lehman and Clara Mauren; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A special thank you to the doctors and nurses of the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Sparrow Hospital for all their kindness and care given to our father.

Dad – We love you and miss you terribly, and although our hearts are broken, we find comfort in knowing that you are now with Mom.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Mike Alber at 11:00 a.m., Friday, December 7, 2018 at St. Patrick Catholic Church. Rite of Committal will follow at Portland Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Wednesday evening from 6-8 p.m. and Thursday from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at the Lehman Funeral Home, 210 E. Bridge St., Portland. The rosary will be prayed at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral chapel. Arrangements are entrusted to Lehman Funeral Homes. Online condolences may be made at www.lehmanfuneralhomes.com.