Richard W. Leitelt

Richard W. Leitelt, 73 of Brutus, passed away surrounded by his family at home on Tuesday, February 11, 2025. 

 Rick was born April 5, 1951, the fifth child to Robert and Lucille Leitelt. After moving to Flint, the family increased by eight more children. Rick attended Holy Rosary School and also took college classes at Mott College. In 1972, he moved to Petoskey to live and work for the summer. There he began studying the Bible and was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Rick and Pam attended the Brutus congregation. Rick also learned various building trades and worked for local builders before starting his own masonry company. He loved all forms of masonry but especially enjoyed building stone fireplaces. 

On March 10, 1973, he married Pamela Jay. They lived in Van for the next 25 years and had four children. In 1999, Rick and Pam bought their current home in Brutus where they had rented for the first year of their married life. 

Rick is survived by his wife, Pam; sons, Patrick and Garrick; daughters, Jaclyn (Kevin) Gardner and Melanie (Lucas) Sherman; his beloved grandchildren, Grace Gardner, Quinn Sherman, Megan (Braden) Whitmore, Tristen, Aeyden, Adalynn Leitelt and Tori Waid; siblings, Bob (Rayann) Leitelt, Mary Newman, Lana Leitelt, Jerry (Sue) Leitelt, Joanne (Ron) Ticer, Rose (Lynn) Thomas, Maggie Foster, Liz (Mike) Mandrick, John Leitelt, Bill (Karen) Leitelt and Linda (Randy) Sawyer; and numerous nieces and nephews. He also had a large in-law family that he enjoyed for over fifty years. He was predeceased by his parents; brothers, Jim and Tom; brother-in-law, Bruce Newman; and his in-laws, Robert and Doris Jay, and brother-in-law Eric. 

The family especially wants to thank Dr Rossio, the ER doctors, and Christy, Jane, Shalene, Becky, and Dr Anwar with Hospice of Michigan.

Please share your memories and personal messages with the family on his guestbook below.