Richard Allen Gagnon

Richard (Rich) Allen Gagnon of Battle Creek, MI, passed away peacefully on June 1, 2026. Born on November 21, 1934, in Chicago, IL, the youngest of two sons to Julius and Helen (Magee) Gagnon, Rich grew up in Kankakee, IL, and graduated from St. Patrick High School in 1953. He joined the Navy in August of 1954 and served as a Teleman Class “A” until June 1958, during which he served time in Port Lyautey, Morocco. After discharge, Rich worked at General Foods Corp. where his father, brother, and future wife were employed. He married Jeanette Beauclerc on September 5, 1959, and they moved to Battle Creek with General Foods in 1966. Rich and Jeanette enjoyed 66 years of marriage and an extensive and loving family: 6 children, 14 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren.

Faith in God and the Catholic church was of utmost importance to Rich. As a longtime member of Our Lady of Great Oak Catholic Church, he contributed by serving during mass and helping with fundraising events. He found great joy and purpose as a member of the congregation. His deep faith helped him withstand the loss of his son Luke, as well as Jeanette’s and his own health and life challenges, and he would recite the rosary daily with Jeanette and often with his son, Michael.

Rich enjoyed vacationing with his family in Traverse City at his family’s cottage near Lake Leelanau. He also enjoyed fishing for bluegill off the dock with his cane pole and ice fishing with his long-time friends, Leroy (Brownie) Brown and Richard (Dick) Blackford at their home on Mill Lake. The threesome would often hold fish fries for friends and their families. Upon retiring, Rich and Jeanette bought a camper and spent time traveling with the Jayco Group throughout the Midwest, as well as Gulf Shores, AL. Eat, drink, and be merry, was a motto Rich fully endorsed. He LOVED a good steak, beer and wine, and desserts. No slouch in the kitchen, Rich greatly appreciated the culinary talents of his kids and their spouses and the daily meals they provided when he was unable to cook for himself. He played the clarinet and loved jazz and big band music, and proudly enjoyed the musical gifts of Jeanette, his son Steve, and grandkids. Rich often joined Jeanette volunteering at the South Michigan Food Bank’s monthly food distribution program.

Family was Rich’s greatest joy. When you walked through the door, he’d say, “Sit down and stay awhile!” Visits would often include a taste of his sense of humor, in which he would share the latest joke or his repertoire of stale dad jokes to which the punchlines were delivered by everyone in the room. Rich worked tirelessly to provide for his five children and loved spending time with them and his many grandchildren. He will be deeply missed.

He is survived by: in-laws – Collette Raymond, Charlene (Hank) Rogers, and Nonna Cjeda, Max (Monica) Brigham; children - Steve (Tammy) Gagnon, Mike Gagnon, Phil (Gerry) Gagnon, Maria Gagnon-Markucki, Jeff (Sherri) Gagnon; grandchildren - Nicole (Charles) Elder, Danny (Gina) Gagnon, Brad Gagnon, Craig (Harrison) Gagnon, Dylan (Angel) Gagnon, Sonia Markucki, Camille Markucki, and Gavin Markucki, Ariel (Cooper) Sides, Kyle (Kyley) Lefler, Avey (Travis) Ward, Adri (Zak) Krolewicz, Nora Gagnon, Kurt Lefler. He was preceded in death by: his loving wife - Jeanette Gagnon; son - Luke Gagnon; parents, Julius and Helen Gagnon; in-laws - Raymond and Annette Beauclerc, Paula Brigham, Adrien Raymond, and Jim Cejda.

The family will receive friends 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Friday, June 5, 2026 at Richard A. Henry Funeral and Cremation Services, 703 Capital Ave. SW, Battle Creek, MI 49015. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 6, 2026 at Our Lady of Great Oak Catholic Church, 6574 Lacey Rd., Bellevue, MI 49021. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Parkinson’s Foundation The Parkinson's Foundation or American Heart Association www.heart.org.