Richard “Dick” J. Yount

Richard J. “Dick” Yount, age 84 of Spring Lake, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 6, 2024, surrounded by family. He was born on November 9, 1939, in Flint, MI, the son of Holden and Eileen (Waghorn) Yount. 

Dick graduated from St. Michael’s Catholic School in Flint and then went on to attend University of Michigan to obtain his bachelor’s degree in 1962 and master’s degree in business administration in 1967. Richard met Pauline E. Poli, the love of his life, while attending college and they were married on January 27, 1962, in Flint.

Dick started his professional career working with General Motors before he became the plant manager for Vassar Manufacturing in 1969.  He and his family moved to Spring Lake in 1979 which led him to the opportunity to purchase Daton Enterprises in Spring Lake in 1982. Dick changed the name of the company to R.J. Yount Industries in 1989, and he retired 23 years later in 2005.

Dick was a huge University of Michigan sports fan and was proud to attend many home and away football games, including the Rose Bowl with his family in 1987. He happily celebrated both the 1997 National Championship team and the 2023 undefeated National Championship Team.

He was a member of the Boy Scouts of America and earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 1958. He was involved in the Jaycee’s Club in Vassar, the Rotary Club of Spring Lake and the Knights of Columbus. Dick and Pauline were able to travel a lot and especially enjoyed their time in Grand Cayman, where they visited every year for 20+ years.

Dick was a longtime member of Spring Lake Country Club where he served on the Board of Directors. He was also proud of his “Hole in One” on hole #11 at SLCC on August 5, 2009. He served many years on the North Ottawa Community Hospital Board of Directors. He and Pauline were members of St. Mary’s Catholic Church since 1979 when they moved to Spring Lake, where he served on the Finance committee. Dick enjoyed playing bridge for over 40 years and was a Life Master Bridge Player. He enjoyed weekly bridge with his friends; playing 2 weeks before he passed away. He had quite a library of German stamps, which he started collecting when he was eight years old.

Richard is survived by his loving wife, Pauline, and their children: Cathie (Kevin) Gagnon, David (Elaine) Yount and Michael Yount; their grandchildren: Lauren (Aaron) Adams, Michael Gagnon,  Morgan (Noah) Forrest, Anna (Brett) Foley, Matthew (Madelyn Wright) Gagnon, Alexander (Ashley) Yount, Elliot (Jaylen) Yount, and Holden Yount; great-grandchildren: Haeven, Holden, Halle, and Hudson Adams, Emery and Senna Yount, and Baby Forrest due in May 2024; his sister, Nancy Ray; sisters-in-law, Nancy Chittle and Theresa “Chickie” Langley; and brother-in-law, Joseph Poli.

He was preceded in death by his parents; mother-in-law, Maxine Newman Poli; father-in-law, Raymond Poli; and brothers-in-law: Frank Poli, Raymond Poli, Tom Chittle, and Steve Langley. 

A Mass of Christian Burial for Richard will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with Fr. Bill Vander Werff officiating. The Visitation will be held on Friday, May 10th, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Klaassen Family Funeral Home, with the Rosary being recited at 7:30 p.m. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church.

Interment will be at New Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Flint, MI on Monday, May 13, at 1:00 pm.

Memorial Contributions in memory of Richard may be made to St. Mary’s Catholic School Endowment Fund, or Ambucs- Muskegon Chapter.

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