Richard Thomas Clute

Richard Thomas Clute, age 83, passed away on July 12, 2024, with his family by his side, while listening to the Detroit Tigers play the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 3-3 tied game.

Richard Thomas Clute was born on August 16, 1940, in Monroe Michigan, and was the youngest of four children born to Lola (Seal) and Martin Clute. He attended Monroe High School where he played many sports, winning trophies, and the triathlon. He enjoyed collecting and trading cars alongside his father.

Richard married his first wife, Antoinette (Babe) Fish, on April 3, 1964, and she blessed him with his first daughter, Melissa Ann. Richard and Babe enjoyed going to NASCAR races and hockey games together, and rescuing dogs. Richard and Babe remained good lifelong friends. Richard married his second wife, Linda Lawson, and she blessed him with two more daughters, Leslie and Nikki, and a son, Duane.

Richard was an avid sports fan and sportsman; he often enjoyed traveling to Myrtle Beach to golf. Many times Richard would have two TVs with the volume down with games or races on, while listening to the Tigers on the radio. Being a true gentleman his whole life, even when using a walker, he always held a door open for a lady. He was very comfortable with himself and had a gentle kindness that made everyone feel at ease. He could talk to anyone and made many friends throughout his life, including one of his closest, Ron Swanson. He was quite the jokester and teller of tall tales, and was never afraid to be bold. He once approached Richard Petty in the infield of a NASCAR race and put his baby daughter Melissa in his arms for a picture.

Richard worked for Grand Aire for close to 30 years; however it never felt like work to him, more like being with family. The Grand Aire family, Tahir and Katrina Chemma, Richard, and many other employees became a tight unit while working together, often making relief deliveries around the U.S. While working alongside Jeff Stephenson, Richard and he became best friends and bothers. Richard proudly watched Tahir’s son, Zach, grow into a man Richard spoke very highly and lovingly of. Richard was always a hard worker. To honor Richard’s hard work, Grand Aire proudly named an airplane tug “Richie” after his retirement.

Richard was the fun loving Papaw to six granddaughters, Casey McLaughlin (Kenneth), Jessica and Stephanie Adams, Shelby-Rayn, his good girl, Bailyn, and Lily, his youngest entertainer. Richard also was blessed with five great grandsons, including Joseph McLaughlin, his buddy, and one great granddaughter.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, William Clute, and his sister, Jennifer Heck. In 2015, Richard lost his best friend and daughter, Leslie, and his wife Linda.

To cherish his memory, he leaves his oldest sister, Mary Favreau, his first wife Antoinette (Babe) Sype, his oldest daughter Melissa Dobroski (Robert), daughter Nikki Clute (Jason Goetz), son Duane Dunn, and his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Friends may gather from 5pm-9pm on August 16, 2024, for a celebration of his life at Stone Creek Banquet Hall,

1 Maguire St., Flat Rock, Michigan 49134, (734) 379-1450.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in honor of Richard to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org), as Richard was a long time donor, or to elderabuse.org.