Richard Joseph Porkarski Jr

Richard Joseph Porkarski Jr - 66 year of Monroe, MI - died on Monday January 22, 2024. Richard will lie-in-state on Saturday January 27, 2024, from 10am until the funeral service commences at 11am. The burial will take place immediately following the funeral. All Services will be provided at the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church- 7295 Kruse Rd Petersburg, MI 49270.

Survivors include his daughter Brandy (Derek Hoppert) Hoppert, his son Andrew Porkarski, his mother Linda, his six siblings Yvonne, Jeannie, Scarlet, Kellie, Chris, Steve, and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his father Richard Porkarski Sr.

Born on August 26th, 1957- Richard was the son of Richard Sr. and Linda Porkarski. He was one of seven children and would spend much of his early years causing mischief that would continue into his adult years. He graduated from Erie Mason High School, where he would have excelled academically, but he did not see the point to bother with homework or studying and rather spent his time working or playing football.

Richard was not one to want to sit behind a desk. This would lead him to a career as a Journeyman welder for Ford Motor Company where he spent many years in plants from Michigan to Minnesota.

When he wasn’t working Richard could best be found in one of three places: the outdoors, a trade show, or the casino. If the weather was good and the fish were biting you could find Rich with a pole in his hand and a smile on his face. In the off times from fishing and hunting, Richard was an avid collector of guns and coins and would go around finding unique items at your local trade shows and could always be caught haggling for a good deal. When luck was on his side; or even if it wasn’t, then the card table and slots would be where he would try to live up to his name of being Rich.

Much like a game of cards, sometimes you get dealt a bad hand. For Richard, life would deal him several bad hands, between various accidents and health issues it became hard for him to enjoy all the things he loved in his later years. He would spend much of his time telling his stories and perhaps some tall tales of all the things he loved and did in his youth to anyone who would be willing to sit and listen. Providing quite some entertainment for the regular listeners anytime a new story would make its way into the mix.

No one ever wishes to lose a loved one but may all who knew Rich find peace that he has moved on to a better place. No longer bound to his mortal limitations, he will be enjoying the great outdoors high up in the sky; and if you find yourself on a bass boat know he is there with you trying to catch the big one.

In-lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to: MDA The Muscular dystrophy Association.