Richard Desvoignes

Richard "Rich" Lee DesVoignes, age 55, passed peacefully on Thursday, February 11, 2021, surrounded by his loving wife and daughters after a year- long battle with Cholangiocarcinoma. Rich was born in Kalamazoo on July 31, 1965, the youngest son of Howard Carroll DesVoignes and Mary Mona (Baker) Smith. He was raised in the Kalamazoo area and attended Parchment, Plainwell, and Portage Central High Schools. Always the entrepreneur, Rich owned and operated his own businesses for the past 25 years, focusing on both building homes and most recently installing high-end roofing and siding. Nothing made him prouder than helping homeowners achieve their dreams. Family was the most important to him and he will always be remembered by his family and friends as a kind and generous man; never having met a stranger, and always helping those in need. He loved politics; telling jokes; and riding or driving anything that went too fast. When asked, "Where are you going?" he would always reply, "Crazy, want to come?" Rich is survived by his wife, Janine K DesVoignes, his high-school sweetheart whom he married in August 1988; two daughters, Kayla M. DesVoignes and Marisa L. (James) Isola; grandson, James Michael; mother, Mona (Ronald) Smith Jr.; grandmother, Dolores Smith; brothers, Raymond (Kim) DesVoignes, Rodney (Autumn) DesVoignes, Randel Smith and cousin/brother, Robert Worden; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Howard and his grandparents, Carroll and Mildred DesVoignes. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust...per Rich's wishes, cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life event will be held at a later date. I will lie down and sleep, in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety, Psalm 4:8 Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Michigan Cremation & Funeral Care, Grand Rapids, 616-452-3006 To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Richard Desvoignes, please visit our flower store.