Richard Daniel Sullivan, age 92, a lifetime Lapeer resident, died Sunday August 11, 2024. He was born July 21,1932 in Flint, to Daniel Parnell and Regina “Sarge” (Callahan) Sullivan.
Dick grew up in Lapeer and graduated in 1950 from Lapeer High School. He went on to attend the University of Notre Dame, where he received his undergraduate degree and then his Juris Doctorate (law degree) in 1956. In 1956 he joined the U.S. Air Force, where he proudly served as Judge Advocate. Dick married Natalee “Nan” Katherine Carpenter on June 18, 1960, at Immaculate Conception Church in Lapeer. He then went to work for Arthur Anderson in Detroit as a Certified Public Accountant. After Nan and Dick started their family, he worked with his father here in Lapeer at D.P. Sullivan Motor Company.
In 1981, he started his own law and CPA firm here in Lapeer…where he worked until he retired in 2011. Mr. Sullivan was a devoted, lifetime member of Immaculate Conception Church in Lapeer. He attended Mass daily when he was able, was a member of the The Fr. Goentges Lapeer Knights of Columbus, Council 1987, and taught Bible study for many years. Mr. Sullivan was also a longtime member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Davison. In 2006, Dick received the Lapeer Community Schools Hall of Honor & Distinguised Alumni Award. He was a 50 year member of the Michigan Bar Association. Dick loved sports of all sorts, and truly loved supporting his children and grandchildren at their athletic events. The Lapeer High School softball field was dedicated in his honor, for his dedication to the sport and the community. Dick supported many local charities over the years and was a member of the Rotary Club of Lapeer for over 50 years. Dick always remembered what his high school football coach said, “work hard if you want to achieve anything”. That is the work ethic he taught his family. Mr. Sullivan loved his family dearly and was always so proud of them.
Dick is survived by his children: Kathaleen (Michael) Brown of Lapeer, William (Amy) Sullivan of Eureka, California, Maureen (Vince) Garrelts of Park Ridge, Illinois, Tamara (Jerry) Miller of Lapeer, Natalee (Kevin) King of Standish and Richard (Michelle) Sullivan of Sterling, Michigan; 19 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; brothers: Daniel Sullivan of Palos Verdes, CA and William Sullivan of Aurora, CO; brother-in-law:; Lloyd Ketchum of Duluth, MN; and many many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and great-great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his dear wife: Nan Sullivan; parents: Daniel and Regina “Sarge” Sullivan; sister: Shelley Ketchum; brother: Parnell Sullivan, Jr. and sisters-in-law: Carol Sullivan and Ann Sullivan.
Visitation will be 1-5PM Sunday, August 18, 2024, at Muir Brothers Funeral Home in Lapeer. The Rosary will be prayed 4PM Sunday at the funeral home. The family will also receive friends one hour prior to Mr. Sullivan’s funeral mass at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Davison. The funeral mass will be 1PM, Monday, August 19, 2024, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Davison. Father Andrew Czajkowski will celebrate the mass, followed immediately by burial at Mt. Loretto Cemetery in Lapeer with military honors under the auspices of American Legion Post #16 Honor Guard. Memorial contributions are encouraged to EWTN Global Catholic Television Network, 5817 Old Leeds Road, Irondale, AL 35210 (www.ewtn.com) or Dubuque Right to Life, 2205 Carter Rd., Dubuque, IA 52001 (www.dcrtl.org). Please share condolences and memories with the family at www.MuirBrothersLapeer.com.