January 23, 1937 – August 1, 2026
Rev. Richard “Dick” Charles Andrus (Retired Elder), of Battle Creek, Michigan, passed away on August 1, 2026, at the age of 89. He was born on January 23, 1937, in Reese, Michigan, where he grew up with his parents, Charles (Chuck) and Helen Andrus, and his two brothers, Lanson (Lanny) and Robert (Bob).
After high school, Dick enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving two years in Germany, most of the time playing clarinet in the Army band. When he completed his two years of military service, Dick returned to Reese, and married his high school sweetheart, Jean Van Petten, with whom he shared life for the next 65 years.
After Dick and Jean had four children, he was called into the ministry with the United Methodist Church, and began his life as a pastor, with an appointment to the Morrice and Bennington UMC parishes in 1967. Dick completed his undergraduate studies at Michigan State University in 1972 and a Master of Divinity at the Methodist Theological School (Methesco), in Delaware, Ohio, in 1975. He served the Jasper and Weston United Methodist Churches while completing his master’s degree.
In June of 1975, Dick and his family moved to Bay Port where he again served two church parishes, Bay Port and Hayes United Methodist Churches. It was during this four-year appointment that Dick became fascinated with fishing, which he found time to do, come rain, shine, or snow. His perch fishing trips led to many family fish fry dinners, during which Dick was always at the heart of the action over the batter bowl and fish fryer.
In 1979, the United Methodist Conference asked Dick and Jean to start a new church in New Baltimore. They accepted the challenge and moved with their children into a newly purchased parsonage to begin the process of developing Grace United Methodist Church. Dick and Jean spent the next 8 years at Grace, taking the congregation from a small group meeting in a high school auditorium, to a thriving community holding worship services in a new church building.
After leaving Grace UMC, Dick had a series of challenging church appointments in Mount Clemens and Warren but the Grace parish always remained near and dear to his and Jean’s hearts. It is where they both chose to have their ashes spread after their deaths.
Dick’s life revolved around the churches he served, music, and various community organizations for which he volunteered. While in New Baltimore, Dick served as Chaplin for the Civil Air Patrol at the Selfridge Air National Guard Base. During his time at Mount Clemens: First UMC, he served on a community advisory board for the Macomb County Sheriff’s Department. In each community in which he lived, he was a member of Rotary Club. Dick served on many church and conference committees, including the UMC District and Conference on the Mission Committee, and the New Church Growth & Development Committee. He served as the dean of the Port Huron Choir Camp for eight years.
Dick retired from the ministry in 1999 and spent the next 27 years traveling, fishing, reading, singing, and enjoying his family and friends in Michigan, Florida, North Carolina, and Washington.
When he and Jean moved into the Heritage Assisted Living facility in Battle Creek, to be near their children and grandchildren, Dick became an active member of the Battle Creek: First United Methodist Church and participated in adult Sunday School. He loved being asked to lead the Sunday School class or to assist in serving communion.
In the last few years, Dick enjoyed singing in the church choir, playing music, including the MSU and UM fight songs, on his recorder, working on a good jigsaw puzzle, and leading his fellow Heritage residents in singing Happy Birthday when other residents or staff members had special days to celebrate. He also took it upon himself to meet and greet every new resident in the facility to make sure they knew they were welcome. He could often be found outside the Heritage facility, helping the staff with the weeding of their flower beds.
Dick was proud of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and made sure that each of them knew they were loved unconditionally and the subject of his daily prayers. He was intellectually curious, and compassionate and caring — traits he endeavored to instill in every member of his family.
Dick is preceded in death by his parents, Chuck and Helen Andrus, his beloved wife, Jean, and his daughter-in-law, Judy. He is survived by two brothers, Lanny (Bonnie), and Bob (Pam); by his children: Sam (Suzie Van Hal) Andrus, Cindy (Joel) Thick, Beth (Mark Fleming) Andrus, and Deborah Root; by 14 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.
Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial service for Dick at the New Baltimore: Grace United Methodist Church, located at 49655 Jefferson Avenue, New Baltimore, Michigan 48047, on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 11 a.m. A meal will follow the service and the spreading of Dick’s ashes next to those of his wife, Jean, at the Grace UMC Memorial Garden.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider donating in Dick’s honor to either New Baltimore: Grace United Methodist Church Memorial Fund or the Battle Creek: First United Methodist Church Memorial Fund.
Last Updated on August 10, 2026