Richard Dean Peplinski

Richard Dean “Dick” Peplinski, age 95 of Monroe, passed away Sunday, March 19, 2023 at ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital surrounded by his family. Dick was born on August 21, 1927, in Detroit Michigan. From the age of 7, he resided with the John and Bertha Van Wasshenova family in Newport, Michigan. He attended Clark School (a 1 room schoolhouse in Newport), St. Charles Elementary School and Monroe High School. At the age of 17, he enlisted in the US Navy, serving from September 19, 1944 until being honorably discharged on June 28, 1946. He served in Okinawa, Japan during World War II and was a member of the Navy Seabees. Upon his discharge from the Navy, Dick returned to Monroe and worked at several jobs, including Floral City Furniture and Michigan Bell Telephone Company/AT&T. He met the love of his life, Helen Marie Mexico, while making a delivery to her parents’ home. They were married on April 21, 1951, and became the proud parents of five children. Upon retiring from AT&T, he opened Dick’s Electronics, a telephone and cable installation business, servicing many loyal customers well into his eighties. At the age of 90, Dick was blessed to meet the family of his birth mother, Bertha Peplinski. He spent the next five years becoming acquainted with aunts, uncles, and cousins that he never knew growing up. Dick was a member of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, where he served as an usher and as president of its chapter of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. In 2006, he became the parish’s first recipient of the Archdiocese of Detroit Martin Luther King Award for his service to the poor. He also was a member of the Monroe Council 1266 Knights of Columbus, VFW Post 1138, and a volunteer at In the Spirit of Giving. During his later years, his hobbies consisted of golf and woodcarving. He was a member of the Monroe County Retirees Golf League and Monroe Woodcarvers. Dick was a kind, loving, generous and humble man, who placed God first, followed by his wife and family. He was the ideal role model. Dick is survived by his wife of nearly 72 years, Helen Marie, and four daughters: Gail Peplinski, Gwen (Michael) Davison, Lynn (Scott) Schultz, and Cheryl (Jeffrey) Buckthorpe; seven grandchildren: Courtney Arram, McKenna (Chapel) Peplinski Martinez, Amy (Kyle) Upchurch, Nicholas (Lauren) Davison, Sara Schultz, Bradley Buckthorpe, and Brittany (Jake) Johnson; 19 great-grandchildren; and one great-great granddaughter. He was preceded in death by a son, Dean Richard Peplinski; a grandson, Michael Scott Davison; and a granddaughter, Taylior Peplinski. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, Mar. 22nd at Bacarella Funeral Home, 1201 South Telegraph Road, Monroe, MI from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. At 7 p.m., Monroe Council 1266 will lead a Rosary/Litany service. Dick will lie in state at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Michael the Archangel Parish where Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Rev. Fr. Alan Zobler will officiate followed by interment at St. Joseph Cemetery with military honors provided by Monroe VFW Post 1138. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Michael’s Society for St. Vincent de Paul or to St. Michael Parish. Online condolences and special memories may be shared with the family by visiting the obituary page at www.bacarellafuneralhome.com.

Richard Dean Peplinski

August 21, 1927 - March 19, 2023